Imran Khan’s party promises to hold public meeting in Islamabad despite suspension of NOC

Islamabad (Pakistan), July 6: Pakistan Movement for Justice (PTI) chairman Omar Ayub has said that the party’s public meeting in Islamabad will go ahead as scheduled today despite the suspension of its No-Objection Certificate (NOC) by the authorities, Pakistan-based ARY News reported.

In a statement, Ayub said that the PTI was given permission to hold the public gathering after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued the order. He added that the PTI would not be deterred by the government’s attempts to restrict its political activities.

Omar Ayub said the government has taken this decision out of fear and is trying to prevent the rally. He said the PTI is preparing the rally and the workers will gather to take part in the event, according to an ARY News report.

The PTI chairman’s statement came after the Islamabad Police Commissioner revoked the No-Objection Certificate (NOC) issued to the party for public gatherings just a day before the scheduled public gathering.

The decision to suspend the NOC issued to PTI was taken during a meeting chaired by the Islamabad Chief Commissioner, where security agencies expressed their concerns about the potential risks associated with the rally, ARY News reported.

Authorities stated that the decision to suspend the NOC was taken to ensure the maintenance of law and order in the city. Authorities stressed that the safety of the people was their top priority and all necessary measures must be taken to ensure that peace and tranquillity were maintained in the city.

The Islamabad district administration had allowed the PTI to hold a public meeting near Tarnol Chowk on July 6, ARY News reported. After issuing the NOC, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) decided on the petition seeking issuance of NOC for the public meeting. Justice Babar Sattar of the Islamabad High Court heard the petition seeking permission for the PTI meeting in Islamabad.

Meanwhile, PTI founder Imran Khan said he would consider going on hunger strike if justice continued to be denied to him.

Speaking to reporters after attending the court hearing in the £190 million corruption case on Friday, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said the decision in the cases must be taken on the basis of “like or dislike” as all citizens are equal before the law.

He stated that all other cases involving PTI were scheduled before CJP Isa despite his lawyer raising objections to the CJP’s presence on the bench. The PTI founder said that his legal team wanted such cases to be shifted from Courtroom 1, according to Dawn’s report.

Imran Khan reiterated his claim that Adiala Jail was headed by a colonel or major, adding that the prison superintendent was serving “under their command” who had not allowed him to meet the PTI leadership.

Some PTI leaders had come to the jail to meet Imran Khan over the party’s internal disputes, but the jailer, allegedly on the orders of this military officer, did not allow them to meet Imran Khan for at least three hours, Dawn reported. Imran Khan said he was considering going on a hunger strike and would do so if he was denied justice.

Speaking to reporters, Khan said he would advise his party leaders not to make internal differences public as it would distract from the real issue. The PTI founder further said the recent budget had already buried the politics of the Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N).

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor.