KARACHI (Dunya News) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has decided not to hold its planned public rally at Karachi’s Bagh-e-Jinnah despite receiving official permission, opting instead to stage the gathering at the public gate of Mazar-e-Quaid on Sunday at 2pm.
The move came after what the party described as a delayed and bad-faith issuance of a no-objection certificate by the Sindh administration, which PTI leaders say left them without sufficient time to prepare at the original venue.
The rally is being held during a three-day visit to Sindh by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who announced what he termed a “historic” public meeting as part of PTI’s street mobilisation to mark the first anniversary of the February 8, 2024 general elections, which the party alleges were fraudulent.
PTI Karachi spokesperson Fauzia Siddiqui told local media that the party had been granted permission for Bagh-e-Jinnah only at 6:30pm on Saturday, long after preparations were under way and after a press conference by Sindh PTI president Haleem Adil Sheikh at the same venue. “Even after continuous preparations through Saturday evening, the NOC was not issued. It was suddenly released by the Deputy Commissioner East late in the evening, which we believe was done with bad intent,” she said, adding that the party could no longer arrange the rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah at such short notice.
She said PTI’s leadership had therefore decided to hold the public meeting at the Quaid’s Mausoleum public gate at 2pm, where Afridi would be present along with party supporters from across the city.
PTI gets NOC for Karachi rally
Earlier in the day, the Deputy Commissioner East had formally issued the NOC allowing PTI to hold a rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah, but with a detailed set of conditions. According to the permit, the organisers would be responsible for law and order, while the sale or distribution of provocative material, audio or video recordings, and any content deemed inflammatory was prohibited. Hate speech, sectarian remarks, and speeches against the state or the armed forces were also banned.
The NOC further required full compliance with the Loudspeaker Act and all applicable laws, along with the installation of walk-through gates, metal detectors and the deployment of volunteers for security. The entire event was to be video-recorded and the footage submitted to the authorities the following day. Traffic management and parking were to be handled by the organisers, with parking allowed only 200 yards away from the venue and entry and exit points kept limited. The district administration also reserved the right to cancel permission at any time on security grounds or in case of any breach of the conditions.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon confirmed that the NOC had been issued with strict terms, stressing that the rally organisers would bear full responsibility for maintaining law and order and for ensuring smooth traffic flow in surrounding areas. He warned that any violation of the stipulated conditions could result in action or cancellation of the event.
Despite the clearance, PTI Sindh leader Raja Azhar said the party had not effectively received the NOC in time to make arrangements. “Even if permission is given, arrangements cannot be made now,” he said, confirming the decision to move the gathering to the public gate of the Quaid’s mausoleum.
CM Sohail Afridi in Karachi
Afridi arrived in Karachi on Friday for his three-day visit and was welcomed at the airport by Pakistan Peoples Party leader Saeed Ghani, who presented him with a Sindhi topi and ajrak. He later reached the Karachi Press Club, where he addressed party workers and journalists, and also travelled to Jamshoro, where he criticised the PPP leadership, accused it of altering the Constitution through the 26th and 27th amendments, and said the Centre was being run on what he called a fake mandate.
PTI leaders say Sunday’s gathering at Mazar-e-Quaid will go ahead as planned, with supporters urged to assemble at the public gate at 2pm to hear the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister address the crowd.