The City District Government Lahore (CDGL) has refused to give a go-ahead to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold its public gathering at Charring Cross, Mall Road citing a ban placed by the Lahore High Court (LHC) on rallies on the important city artery.
A letter issued by the Lahore district coordination officer (DCO) on Friday stipulates that the PTI would not be allowed to organise its public gathering as per the ban imposed by the LHC and that “the law will take its course” if the orders of the LHC are violated.
It is pertinent to mention here that only last week, the religio-political Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) held a demonstration on Mall Road in connection with its anti-corruption movement and party leader Sirajul Haq addressed a large number of people there.
The Mall Road of Lahore has witnessed a series of rallies, demonstrations and sit-ins after the imposition of the ban by the LHC but the law is yet to take its course.
THE LHC BAN:
DCO Lahore Captain (r) Muhammad Usman told Pakistan Today that he is not authorised to give permission for a rally or a congregation at Mall Road as it would be a contempt of the court.
“The JI did not get any permission to hold its demonstration last Sunday,” the DCO revealed, adding that an FIR [First Information Report] has been registered against those who held a sit-in on the Mall Road in the police station concerned.
“We are trying to convince the PTI to change their venue as it is a security risk as well for Imran Khan to hold a gathering at such an open place,” he said.
PHA REMOVES PTI’S BANNERS:
The supporters of Mumtaz Qadri used to hold a sit-in at Charring Cross every Thursday until a few weeks ago and the police officials did not even for a single time try to vacate the venue.
A handful of protesters wielding clubs would close all the adjoining roads and sometimes vandalise public and private property, including a break-in at the Punjab Assembly museum, but the police would remain silent spectators.
This time, however, there is no such magnanimity as the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) on Friday removed banners and streamers belonging to the PTI from Mall Road.
The banners and flexes for the May 1 rally had been put up at the Charring Cross and adjoining areas without paying dues to the PHA, officials said.
According to officials, the action will be expanded to other parts of the city and banners and flexes put up without payment of fees will be immediately removed.
On the other hand, the PTI has released a letter written to the PHA director-general on April 28. In the letter, the party has sought permission for fixing banners and streamers from April 29 till May 1.
PTI DOES NOT NEED PERMISSION:
The rally’s organiser, Aleem Khan said the PHA is not issuing fee demand notice at the behest of the provincial government. PTI has followed all the rules, he claimed.
PTI Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) from Lahore Mian Aslam Iqbal told Pakistan Today that a delegation of the PTI held two rounds of negotiations with the officials of the CDGL to discuss the arrangements for the PTI’s rally.
“We did not seek permission from the CDGL. We merely intimated them that we are going to hold a rally on Charring Cross,” he said. He said the DCO had told the delegation that there is a security risk in holding a demonstration at the venue as the banned outfit which carried a suicide attack in the Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park may target the PTI rally.
“The PTI will not shift its venue for Sunday’s rally and it is the responsibility of the government to provide us foolproof security,” Iqbal said, and added that it is not necessary to get prior permission from the DCO for a public gathering as the JI as well as the supporters of Mumtaz Qadri never sought such permission, he said. He said that the only responsibility of a political party is to inform the district government prior to holding a public gathering and the PTI has done it.
Talking to Pakistan Today, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations of Lahore Dr Haider Ashraf said that it is very difficult for the police to provide security at open places.
“Imran Khan is a charismatic leader and he attracts the crowd in great numbers. It is better for him as well as the public to shift the rally to an enclosed venue,” the DIG said, and added that the Lahore Police will provide ample security to the rally if the PTI does not shift the venue from Charring Cross as the ultimate responsibility to protect people’s lives lies with the police.
EVEN PML-N CAN’T HOLD A RALLY ON MALL ROAD:
Punjab government spokesman Syed Zaeem Hussain Qadri said that the Punjab government has not given permission to PTI to hold a rally on Mall Road.
He said that under the orders of the LHC, there is a ban on rallies, public meetings and processions on Mall Road. He said that despite ban on holding of public meetings and processions on Mall Road under Section 144, the PTI is bent upon taking out a rally.
He said the government has also informed the PTI leadership about the security threats and that the party will itself be responsible for any untoward incident. He said the PTI leadership has also been informed in writing in this regard.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Ports and Shipping Kamran Michael was denied permission by CDGL to hold a rally in support of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who is facing criticism from the opposition in the wake of the release of Panama Papers. The district administration cited security concerns and other rallies on May 1 as the reason for denying the permission.
