KARACHI: Daylong confusion over whether or not the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would get permission to hold a public meeting at Bagh-e-Jinnah ended late on Saturday night when senior PTI leader Haleem Adil Shiekh said on social media platform X that his party would hold the public meeting at Bagh-e-Jinnah on Sunday (today) after the Sindh government issued an NOC.
In late-night tweets, he said the party had earlier announced that it would orgainse the public meeting at the gate of Mazar-e-Qauid because the NOC had been issued quite late, after 6:30pm, but “now we have decided to hold the Jalsa inside Bagh-e-Jinnah”.
Earlier, the PTI had said the administration did not grant permission for holding a public meeting at Bagh-e-Jinnah till Saturday evening, so the party could not make arrangements for people in the ground.
On the other hand, Pakistan Peoples Party’s senior leader and local government minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said that the provincial leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has been clearly informed that no one will be allowed to block roads under the pretext of reception. He said that if the public faces inconvenience, the law will take its course.
It is pertinent to mention that the Sindh government has granted conditional permission to the PTI to hold a public meeting on Sunday at the Bagh-e-Jinnah, adjacent to Mazar-e-Quaid subject to specific conditions.
The deputy commissioner of District East issued a no objection certificate (NOC) subject to specific conditions for PTI organisers, stipulating that full responsibility for maintaining law and order during the public meeting would rest with the organisers. Incendiary speeches, provocative content and sectarian remarks would not be permitted.
Addressing a press conference at Bagh-e-Jinnah, PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, along with other party leaders, said that formal applications were submitted to the deputy commissioner East for permission to hold a gathering at Bagh-e-Jinnah and security fees of Rs2.5 million was deposited with the Mazar-e-Quaid committee, with receipts obtained. “Despite fulfilling all legal requirements, written permission or NOC was not granted. At 5:15pm, the gate of Bagh-e-Jinnah was suddenly closed and police blocked the entry of equipment,” Sheikh said.
Therefore, Sheikh announced that the party will now hold its rally at the public gate of Mazar-e-Quaid on Sunday, January 11, at 2 pm, instead of the previously scheduled 4 pm. He said that Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Suhail Afridi will also attend and address the gathering. He urged Karachi residents to participate in a “peaceful and robust” manner. “PTI is a peaceful political party. The entire city witnessed thousands stepping out without damaging a single item. This public reception shows that PTI remains at the forefront. Our leader is Imran Khan, and we stand for the Constitution, democracy and nonviolent struggle,” he added.
PTI Karachi President Raja Azhar, an applicant for holding the public meeting, said that they had not received the NOC for the public gathering yet. “Even if permission is given, arrangements cannot be made now,” he said, noting that it has been decided to stage the gathering at the public gate of the Quaid’s mausoleum.
Talking to journalists at the Expo Center on the occasion of Food Asia International Trade Fair, Pakistan Peoples Party’s senior leader and local government minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said that everyone is allowed to carry out peaceful political activities in Sindh. He, however, said no one will be permitted to take the law into their own hands. He said that the Pakistan Peoples Party firmly believes in the supremacy of democracy. Nasir Shah said chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa represents the mandate of the people of KP and the PPP respects the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. On the directives of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, protocol is being provided to the chief minister of KP. Nasir Shah said that PTI’s political approach is extremist in nature and that issues arise due to the teachings of Khan. He added that no one is against peaceful politics.
Responding to a question, he said that Sindh has always been hospitable. While there are political differences with PTI, there is no personal enmity. PTI must eliminate extremism and militancy from its ranks. He urged PTI to reconsider its protest call announced for February and not push its supporters and workers into further difficulties. He reiterated that PTI’s future lies within Pakistan and advised the party to adopt a political attitude that could pave the way for its future. He said efforts are being made to ensure that the visit of the chief minister of KP to Sindh remains peaceful. He further said the people of Karachi have been protected from the politics of extortion and gunny-bagged bodies. He added that Bagh-e-Jinnah is under federal control, and efforts are being made to grant permission for holding a public gathering there.
The public gathering was announced by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi during his ongoing three-day visit to Sindh. Sindh information minister Sharjeel Inam Memon also issued a statement saying that no-objection certificate (NOC) for the rally had been issued with specific conditions, stressing that organisers would bear full responsibility for maintaining law and order during the event. He said speeches against the country and state institutions would not be allowed, while the use of provocative language, objectionable material or sectarian remarks was strictly prohibited.
Memon added that ensuring smooth traffic flow in surrounding areas would also be the responsibility of rally organisers. The provincial minister further said that the programme must conclude before the stipulated time mentioned in the NOC, warning that any violation of the conditions could lead to action. He noted that the district administration reserved the right to cancel the permission at any point due to security concerns, reiterating that compliance with all terms was mandatory to avoid cancellation of the rally.
CM Afridi arrived in Karachi on Friday on a three-day visit to Sindh as part of PTI’s street mobilisation movement to mark the first anniversary of the “fraud” February 8 polls held in 2024.
Contrary to his Punjab visit, where members of his delegation clashed with security personnel, the KP CM’s first day in Sindh went smoothly. Upon arrival at the Karachi airport, the KP CM was welcomed by Pakistan Peoples Party’s Saeed Ghani at the Karachi airport, who presented him with a Sindhi topi and Ajrak. From the airport, the KP chief minister reached the Karachi Press Club in six hours, where he addressed workers and the journalist community.
