ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday rejected the request of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) seeking to change venue of Aug 22 rally from Islamabad’s suburb to the heart of the city.

IHC Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb was hearing the petition of PTI’s local leader Amir Masood Mughal.

The petitioner initially sought the court’s direction to the district administration for granting no objection certificate to PTI for holding a Jalsa.

The district administration subsequently issued the NOC for its public gathering at Tarnol on Aug 22.

The petitioner on the other hand requested the court to direct the district administration to change the venue as Tarnol being a suburb of Islamabad could not attract the spectators.

He was seeking permission to hold the public gathering at Fatima Jinnah Park, Parade Ground or Peshawar Morr.

Justice Aurangzeb remarked that the court cannot issue direction to hold a Jalsa at Fatima Jinnah Park, as this is the only park left for the capital residents.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2024