ISLAMABAD: After no response from the district administration despite multiple attempts, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to seek permission for a public gathering in the federal capital later this month.

The petition filed by PTI leader Amir Mughal through his lawyer MNA Sher Afzal Marwat will be heard by a single-member bench of the high court today.

It is noted here that PTI leader Amir Mughal has apparently sought permission from the Deputy Commissioner’s Office twice since March 15 to organise a “peaceful protest” against alleged rigging in the Feb 8 elections.

After the deputy commissioner did not respond, Amir Mughal said he sent another reminder to the office, requesting to “exercise its constitutional right of holding peaceful public gathering” in Islamabad on March 23. “…in case March 23 is not convenient, [a rally on] March 30 at 10pm at Parade Ground, or F-9 Park, or D-Chowk, (whichever venue is deemed suitable to the authorities), may graciously be granted for the holding of the public gathering,” Mr Mughal said in his application.

“It is assured that the PTI, its workers and all the participants will remain peaceful and the party will make sure that the participants adhere to the instructions and code of conduct issued by your office for the peaceful holding of the event,” he stated.

DC office yet to respond to PTI’s request despite reminder

Speaking to Dawn, the PTI leader who lost the election from NA-46 said he had not received any response from the district administration.

“On Tuesday I filed a petition through Advocate Sher Afzal Marwat to get the approval for a peaceful public meeting in the federal capital. I went to the IHC in the morning as my biometric was required and we have been informed that a single bench will hear the case on Wednesday (today) morning,” he said.

He disclosed that party founder Imran Khan had given the responsibility to Advocate Sher Afzal Marwat to ensure the arrangements for the public meeting.

“We want to hold a public meeting and protest against the alleged rigging in the Feb 8 polls.

“We have been deprived of almost 90 seats of the National Assembly and we reserve the right to protest,” he claimed. Responding to a question, Amir Mughal said that the party was considering a long march and sit-in against the alleged rigging after Eid.

An official of the capital administration said that PTI leader Amir Mughal had approached the DC office twice since March 15 to seek permission for the rally. However, the office ignored both requests and no response was given to the applicant.

The official said that the matter was brought into the knowledge of the quarters concerned to prompt a response to the letters, but they allegedly asked the capital administration to either ignore the requests or not respond.

There were several pretexts under which the permission to hold the gathering could be refused, the official said, adding that Section 144 imposed in the federal capital could be used to deny permission to the PTI.

Similarly, on March 23, Pakistan Day’s parade will be held on the same day and there will be the ‘VVIP and VIP movement’ in the capital, the official said, adding due to the engagement on the day, it would be “difficult for the police and law enforcers to provide security to the PTI rally”.

Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon confirmed that the administration has not decided on the PTI’s requests.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2024