ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has received permission from the Islamabad administration to hold its sit-in on the Kashmir Highway near Aabpara Chowk.

Islamabad Additional Deputy Commissioner Abdul Sattar confirmed to Dawn that the PTI had submitted an application to the administration on Thursday, asking for the allocation of Kashmir Highway as the venue for the PTI demonstration in the capital. However, the administration says that the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) has yet to submit a similar request.

There had been considerable confusion over the venue for the PTI sit-in over the past several days. The government also seemed confused over whether to allow demonstrators to enter Islamabad or not.

ADC Sattar said it had been decided that the participants of the PTI march would hold the sit-in on Kashmir Avenue, between Aabpara and Zero Point. According to an Interior Ministry advisory, he said, there was a threat of terrorism at the long march, which is why stringent security measures were necessary.

“The government decided that security cameras would be installed in the area between Zero Point and the Convention Centre,” he said.

Another ICT administration official said the PTI had given assurances to the administration that it would ensure a peaceful protest in the federal capital.

The official told Dawn 25 CCTV cameras were being installed at different points along Kashmir Avenue. Each camera monitors an area of 220 square yards and will be functional around the clock, he said.

Ali Awan, one of the organisers of the PTI march in Islamabad, said the party had decided to prepare the main stage for the sit-in near a private hotel on Kashmir Highway.

“We have started preparations and the stage will be completed before the arrival of the Azadi March,” he said.

Ghulam Ali, the media coordinator for PAT, told Dawn that his party had submitted an application to the ICT administration last week but the latter had returned it.

“The party will now file a fresh application and we hope that permission for the sit-in will be given before the Inquilaab March arrives in the capital,” he said.

Also on Thursday, Rawalpindi RPO Akhtar Umar Hayat Laleka told Dawn that due to threats against the PTI chief, the government was providing eight teams of Elite Force commandos, which will escort him on the Jhelum-Rawalpindi leg of his journey to the capital. Each team consists of eight commandos.

Policemen will be deployed on hilltops between the two cities to ensure that no one tries to attack Mr Khan, he said.

The Jhelum-Rawalpindi route is considered most sensitive and police have advised Mr Khan to remain inside his container and not to wave to supporters from the sunroof of his armored container while traveling between the two cities.

Though, the PTI chairman is traveling in a bullet and bomb-proof container, police believe that he should be provided additional security cover because of intelligence reports indicating that he could be targeted by terrorists.

However, there was no word on what kind of security would be provided to PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2014