• Imran to use helipad at Parade Ground
• Capital police consume Rs800m released to tackle long march

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Rawalpindi and Islamabad chapters have submitted separate applications to the respective district administrations for its public gathering on Nov 26.

In an application to Rawalpindi’s Deputy Commissioner Shoaib Ali, PTI Rawalpindi president Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi said the party had decided to organise a peaceful public gathering or a sit-in in connection with its ‘Haqeeqi Azadi March’ at Faizabad on Murree Road on Nov 26.

He said former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan would lead the march or sit-in and a large number of people were expected to participate in it. Therefore, a stage and other event/festivity equipment are being installed at the venue, it added.

He requested the district administration to undertake necessary measures in terms of provision of the venue, specialised security and others.

A senior PTI leader in Rawalpindi told Dawn that the party did not want to stage a sit-in at Faizabad but was going to hold a public gathering there. He said earlier there was a plan to stage a sit-in at Faizabad, Tarnol and Rawat but later the plan was changed.

On the other hand, PTI’s former MPA Arif Abbasi said Imran Khan would lead the rally from Kutchery Chowk to Faizabad via Murree Road.

He said party leaders met at Imran Khan’s Zaman Park residence on Monday and chalked out the new plan for Nov 26, adding that there was no plan of a sit-in and the party office-bearers had been asked to mobilise the workers and supporters for the public gathering.

Meanwhile, the party’s Islamabad chapter approached the capital administration to get access to Parade Ground for landing and taking off of a helicopter to be used by its chairman, Imran Khan, for the public gathering and sit-in at Faizabad.

Besides, permission was also requested to cross/proceed from different routes of the capital to reach Faizabad in Rawlapindi.

PTI Islamabad president Ali Nawaz Awan in a letter addressed to the deputy commissioner stated that the party had announced a peaceful public gathering/sit-in at Faizabad (Rawalpindi) on Saturday for which rallies/convoys from Islamabad and across Pakistan would arrive.

“Moreover, the PTI chairman’s helicopter shall land in the parade ground to join the rally and proceed to Rawalpindi,” the letter said.

Funds for Islamabad police

The capital police have already spent about Rs800 million released by the government to counter the PTI’s long march/sit-in with no sign of the main protest rally to be held even near Islamabad, sources in the police said.

They said the amount was demanded in two phases and first a grant of Rs410 million was released to bear the rent of containers, vehicles etc., besides providing the force with food and anti-riot gear.

However, the amount released to the police was spent in October due to poor planning, said the sources, adding in November the police made another request for the release of a supplementary grant of Rs400 million on the pretext of maintaining law and order during the PTI’s long march/sit-in.

Since October 8, as many as 1,000 containers hired by the capital police have been put along roadsides at different points without being used. Besides, three-time meals are being served to over 14,000 personnel and officers.

The sources said the police may seek more funds as the second grant was also about to run out.

However, some officers in the police also showed displeasure over what they said poor planning and unprofessional attitude of the concerned senior officers that already had cost the national exchequer Rs800 million.

When contacted for comments on the utilisation of the grants, police public relations officer (PRO) Jawad Taqi said: “Let me check.” However, later he was not available.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2022