Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has decided to hold a public rally in Islamabad on August 22, according to Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information. The announcement was made during a press briefing in Islamabad on Sunday, where Saif reassured that the party would take measures to avoid any violations of the law during the event. “We guarantee that there will be no law and order issue,” Saif stated.
This decision comes after months of struggle by PTI to secure permission for a public gathering in the federal capital. Authorities had repeatedly denied the party’s requests, citing security concerns. In June, the Islamabad High Court’s Justice Babar Sattar had directed PTI and the city’s administration to resolve the issue amicably after the party sought permission to hold a rally. Following this, the deputy commissioner granted PTI a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for a public gathering.
However, Islamabad Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa later suspended the NOC due to the onset of the month of Muharram and ongoing security concerns, alongside complaints from local residents. This led PTI to file a contempt of court petition against those responsible for the suspension.
After the court disposed of PTI’s plea, the party once again approached the district administration, seeking permission for a public meeting on August 13 in Islamabad. Despite ongoing efforts, the former ruling party faced obstacles in holding a rally in the capital.
Barrister Saif’s announcement aligns with a statement made earlier this month by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who asserted that no one could prevent PTI from staging a rally. Gandapur had made this declaration during a PTI gathering in Swabi, held to mark the one-year imprisonment of Imran Khan.
Saif emphasized that the August 22 rally would see significant participation from the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also urged the authorities not to create further tension by imposing barriers on the party’s activities, highlighting the challenging situation the country currently faces.
