ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan announced a change in the party’s protest venue on Thursday urging supporters to gather in Islamabad’s F9 Park to demonstrate against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja, instead of outside the body’s headquarters as previously announced.
“Today I am calling all our people to come out in peaceful public protest against CEC & ECP in F-9 Park at 6 pm,” he wrote in a message on Twitter.
The former prime minister said he will be addressing the gathering between 7pm and 7:30pm.
Khan had earlier asked supporters to gather outside the ECP office to demand Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja’s resignation.
After the party decided to change the protest venue, the district administration granted it permission to gather at F9 Park and Sector H9.
Today I am calling all our people to come out in peaceful public protest against CEC & ECP in F9 Park at 6 pm. I will be addressing the gathering between 7:00 – 7:30 pm.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) August 4, 2022
An official notification authorizing the protest has been issued.
The notification warns the party that all rules and regulations must be followed while staging the demonstration.
In anticipation of disturbance by protesters, Islamabad’s district administration sealed the Red Zone and placed containers at the entry points of the federal capital.
Personnel of law enforcement agencies including anti-riot force, Rangers, FC, and police have been deployed around the Red Zone.
In a press conference a day earlier, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah warned PTI of strict action against those who would try to enter the Red Zone.
