KOHAT: The local administration has refused to grant permission to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s local leadership to hold a workers’ convention here on Sunday (today).

A notification issued by deputy commissioner Dr Azamatullah Wazir on Saturday said the permission to hold the convention was denied as the party submitted an application for the purpose with much delay.

Mr Wazir said the district police officer, Kohat, had also expressed his inability to provide security for the PTI convention as Pakistan Peoples Party was also going to hold a workers’ convention the same day.

Moreover, the DC said the PTI leadership didn’t mention the venue of the gathering in the application.

The notification further added that the party’s leadership did not submit an affidavit necessary for seeking permission for holding political gatherings.

Meanwhile, PTI district president Aftab Alam Advocate accused the administration of being partisan and not providing a level playing field to them. He added the administration had announced its decision only a day before the convention, thus giving the party no time to make alternative arrangements for the purpose.

PROTEST: The residents of the Kohat city staged a demonstration here on Saturday against the police for not producing a man – allegedly in their custody — in court.

They blocked the Hangu highway early in the morning, raising slogans against the police. However, officials at the cantonment and city police stations denied custody of the man, identified as Tassawur. The protesters ended the road blockade when the SP city assured them of producing the ‘missing’ man before court on Monday.

Published in Dawn, December 10th, 2023