ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Monday changed the venue of its planned March 27 power show in Islamabad from D-Chowk to Parade Ground.
Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Qazi Jamilur Rehman told the Supreme Court that Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (power to issue order absolute at once in urgent cases of nuisance or apprehended danger) was already in force in the capital and had been widened to include the Red Zone.
The PTI said that “the Parade Ground will be more suitable to accommodate the number of people that are expected to participate in the rally.” PTI Senator Faisal Javed Khan had also stated that the D-Chowk would prove to be a “small venue” for what what he described would be the “biggest rally in the history of Pakistan”.
Prior to the imposition of Section 144 , the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had also ruled against holding any political gathering in Red Zone which houses key government institutions including Parliament House, Supreme Court, Presidency and the Prime Minister’s Office.
The district management had also suggested the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the opposition change the location of their rallies scheduled to be held in Islamabad.
Authorities have suggested the opposition holds their rally at Sector H-9 of Islamabad. The opposition has agreed to change the location of their rally only if the government will not be allowed to hold their rally at D-Chowk.
PTI had claimed to hold a ‘historic’ rally at D-Chowk on March 27 to show solidarity with Prime Minister Imran Khan as he faces a no-confidence motion. In response, the joint opposition has also asked its workers to reach the federal capital by March 25.
