Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has abruptly changed its plans for a large rally in Rawalpindi, converting it into a protest instead. The party has withdrawn its application for the rally and is now mobilizing its workers for the demonstration.
The PTI had filed a petition with the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench regarding the planned September 28 rally, seeking permission after the district administration denied a No Objection Certificate (NOC). However, this petition was withdrawn today by PTI lawyer Muhammad Faisal Malik, acting on instructions from PTI Chairman Imran Khan.
Meanwhile, PTI’s lawyers staged a brief protest outside the Supreme Court on Friday. Strict security arrangements had been made for the protest.
Salman Akram Raja, Shoaib Shaheen, Laif Khosa, Azam Swati and Niazullah Niazi attended the protest.
Speakers at the protest said that the SC was a beacon of hope but the government wants to clip its powers.
The protest, according to Niazi, wass against the government’s proposed “Form 47” (likely referring to a legal document or amendment) and the government’s constitutional package, particularly the creation of additional constitutional courts.
Niazi asserted that constitutional courts already exist in the country and that the PTI opposes the creation of more.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa PTI leadership has instructed party workers and officials to assemble at 10:00 AM to participate in the protest.
In light of the PTI protest in Rawalpindi, party workers and officials from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been directed to leave at 10 AM tomorrow.
A meeting of PTI’s parliamentary and organizational officials was held at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, where officials and assembly members were instructed to reach Rawalpindi with the workers.
According to sources, the PTI workers have been instructed to depart from Peshawar at 10 AM, and the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will arrive in Swabi at 11 AM.
Sources indicate that Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur will head to Rawalpindi in a convoy from Swabi, and workers have been instructed to be fully prepared for the journey. PTI workers have also been informed that this will be a protest, not a rally.
Sources indicate that all officials from Northern Punjab have been assigned specific tasks in preparation for the event. Members of the National and Provincial Assemblies from ten districts in Northern Punjab have been instructed to bring along one hundred workers each.
In response to various organizational needs, PTI’s senior leadership and local leaders have formed committees to manage the logistics. Members of the assembly are expected to bring their supporters to Rawalpindi on Friday.
Local leaders have been directed to arrange accommodations and meals for workers arriving from other districts.
Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi police have begun monitoring all hotels and inns throughout the city to ensure security during the protest.
