Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has withdrawn its plea seeking permission to hold a public rally in Rawalpindi, originally scheduled for Saturday. The decision was made during a hearing at the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi bench, presided over by Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz.
Court Proceedings
During the hearing, PTI’s lawyer announced the withdrawal of the plea, prompting Justice Chaudhry to question the timing of the decision, given that the rally was planned for the next day. The lawyer explained that the request for the rally was submitted three days prior but was only being addressed on the day of the hearing. He further noted that the deputy commissioner was delaying the process, leading the party to withdraw the plea based on leadership instructions.
Background
PTI had initially approached the deputy commissioner’s office to request permission for the rally on September 28. Leaders Ghulam Husnain, Owais Younis, and Nabeel Satti filed the application, seeking approval for the event to take place at either Liaquat Bagh or Bhatta Chowk, citing constitutional rights to political activities. The deputy commissioner acknowledged receipt of the request.
Statements from Leadership
In a video message on September 22, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced a public gathering in Mianwali on September 29, followed by another event in Rawalpindi. He expressed defiance against any legal actions, stating, “What should I apologize for? I have done nothing that warrants an apology.”
Gandapur criticized the ruling parties for alleged unconstitutional activities, asserting that the people of Pakistan support democracy and PTI founder Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned for 414 days.
Recent Rally Incident
On September 21, PTI held a rally in Lahore, which was abruptly halted due to the late arrival of Chief Minister Gandapur, who did not meet the 6 PM deadline set by city officials for the event’s no-objection certificate (NOC). Following the deadline, police took control of the stage, cutting off the microphone and lights, which prevented other leaders from addressing the crowd. Only a few top leaders, including Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, managed to speak before the disruption.
Conclusion
The withdrawal of the rally plea reflects ongoing challenges faced by PTI in organizing political events amid bureaucratic hurdles and law enforcement actions. The party continues to assert its commitment to democratic processes and constitutional rights in Pakistan.
