PTI manages to lockdown parade ground

Female supporters started leaving venue while Imran Khan was speaking

Rally misses the target of gathering one million; Special Branch estimates 17,000

Around 2 PM, the time given by Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief, not a single leader of PTI had arrived and there were barely 200 to 300 supporters of PTI present. The crowd started pouring around 7 PM and it was estimated to be around one lakh by certain observers.

However, according to the Special Branch, there were approximately 17,000 people there.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Minister Pervaiz Khattak entered Islamabad with a convoy of around 500 cars. Authorities claimed that on their way out, the participants didn’t pay toll tax as they whirled past the Islamabad toll plaza.

Asad Umer submitted an affidavit to Islamabad Capital Administration on behalf of PTI promising that Yaum-e-Tashakur rally will be concluded by 10 PM. Ironically, Imran Khan started his speech on 10:02 PM. PTI MNA from Islamabad also agreed to not raise any slogans against Pakistan and the state. He further agreed that no effigy of any political leader will be burnt; internal security of the venue shall be the responsibility of the organisers. “In the case of violation of any of the above terms and conditions, the organisers shall be liable to face legal proceedings and NOC shall automatically stand cancelled,” it concluded.

DJ Wali Son from Sahil was providing the sound systems for the Yaum-e-Tashakur. As many as 400 speakers were placed in and around the parade ground. “We are here to provide the music and sound system. We have a staff of 400 who’ll ensure that all the equipment is up and running,” said an employee of DJ Wali Son. The services of DJ Butt had been terminated after a dispute over outstanding payments from 2014 dharna in Islamabad.

Two teams of bomb disposal squad (BDS) were present at the venue to ward off any emergency. Military helicopters made surveillance rounds over the Parade Ground

“We are expecting a gathering comprising of thousands of people and have taken appropriate steps to make sure safety and security of those participating in today’s gathering,” said Additional District Commissioner, Abdul.Sattar Aisani, while talking to Pakistan Today. He said 5,000 police and FC personnel have been deployed in and around the Parade Ground.

“We have given 30 years of our life to PML-N, but we got nothing. Our homes are still without electricity, no road leads to our village. In Imran Khan, we’ve found a saviour and whatever he’ll say, we’ll be available for him,” said Zafeer Malik, a participant and resident of Nathiagali, Murree.

Not a single walkthrough gate installed at entry points was functional and police personnel were frisking the participants by hand. When contacted, authorities said that they’ll be connected to the generators and, in the meantime, no one would be allowed to enter the venue without a thorough checking.

Thousands of police personnel were deployed on Faizabad, Murree Road and near Ashraf Mosque Chowk. Roads leading to Red-Zone, Islamabad Club, Serena and NADRA office were also heavily guarded.

The administration had decided not to send FC personnel back even though the PTI went back on its lockdown. Sources said that FC personnel will be sent back after the conclusion of Yaum-e-Tashakur on November 3.

Minor scuffles broke all day long as Imran Tiger Force (ITF) – a PTI youth faction responsible for security around Imran Khan’s container – strived to keep PTI workers from climbing up the container.

The rally site attracted vendors selling water bottles, snacks, selfie sticks and PTI merchandise of caps and shawls.

Local government leaders of PTI, including chairmen, vice chairmen and members were also denied entry by ITF volunteers, as they denied them entry citing that container is for top leadership only.

PTI’s Imran Tiger Force started ushering female workers out, while Khan was giving his speech as a strategy to counter any likelihood of stampede.