The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has postponed its planned rally in Islamabad’s Tarnol area, which was scheduled for 6pm on Saturday (today) after the capital city administration cancelled the no-objection certificate (NOC) issued for the public gathering.

“God willing […] we will hold it after Ashura through a legal process,” Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan said at a press conference in Islamabad earlier in the day.

Earlier this week, the PTI approached the Islamabad High Court to obtain the necessary NOC from the administration. On Thursday, the court disposed of the petition when the state counsel claimed that the NOC had already been granted.

A day before the rally, the federal capital administration stated that the permission for the “political gathering” had been cancelled due to “security issues”. The statement cited the current security situation, the advent of Muharram, and concerns raised by law enforcement agencies as the reasons behind the decision.

Ayub, alongside the party’s top leadership at the presser, said: “Not just this jalsa, we will hold several other rallies in Lahore, Karachi and other cities. Don’t force us towards a mass agitation.”

He expressed disappointment over the cancellation of the NOC, stating that the party had made all the necessary preparations until late last night, only to have the site sealed by the police and the NOC cancelled by the deputy commissioner.

Barrister Gohar Khan, at the outset of the press conference, claimed that several PTI workers had been picked up in recent days and vowed to take the matter to the court, condemning the “state brutality”.

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The PTI leader warned the government, stating, “This government […] will only last a few days. God willing, our struggle for democracy will continue.”

Moreover, the party has filed a petition in the IHC seeking contempt proceedings against the Islamabad district administration and police.

The petition alleged that the reasons cited for the cancellation of the NOC were malafide and based on ulterior motives.