Islamabad Capital Territory administration on Wednesday sought details of the proposed programme of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s protest at Islamabad’s D-Chowk on October 4 against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The administration in its letter to PTI Chief’s Coordinator Col (r) Yunus Ali Raza asked for details of the party’s plan for necessary coordination and examination under the relevant law.
Islamabad deputy commissioner had earlier informed the PTI leadership that due to precarious security environment, restrictions were imposed under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) in ICT and all public gatherings and rallies were banned.
Political gatherings and staging of rallies are not allowed in the red-zone area of the federal capital. Any public event in any part outside the red-zone needs prior coordination for necessary security arrangements, code of conduct and traffic plan.
On August 29, issuing an ultimatum to the country’s top electoral body, PTI chairman Imran Khan announced a demonstration outside ECP headquarters if the party’s demands were not met. Addressing a gathering in Lahore, Imran said his party would contest all by-polls and local bodies elections, but that the existing ECP set up was unacceptable for the party.
The PTI chief said the polling body acted as if it were the election commission of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). He said the polling body had until October 4 to replace the existing ECP members, adding that his party would decide its future course of action on October 4, depending on whether the ECP met its demands or not.
