PTI to hold public gathering in Karachi today

KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi will address PTI’s rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah in Karachi at 4:30 PM today, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Sunday.

Senior Sindh Minister Sharjeel Memon said on Saturday that permission had been formally granted to the PTI to hold a public gathering at the venue, and that in this respect a NOC had been issued by the deputy commissioner Karachi.

Memon said that the NOC had been issued along with some conditions as the organizers of the event would be fully responsible for law and order during the rally.

He said that anti-state or anti-state institutions’ speeches would not be allowed at the public gathering.

The minister said it would be the responsibility of the organizers to maintain traffic flow during the rally.

Memon said it will be mandatory to end the programme before the scheduled time, and that the district administration would have the authority to cancel the permission for security reasons.

Also on Saturday, Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar said that the PTI had been allowed to hold a rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah, but the party would not be allowed to hold the event on the road, adding strict action would be taken against the organizers in case such thing happened. “No one will be allowed to challenge the writ of the state,” he stated categorically.

On Friday, Sindh government had given a green signal to the PTI to hold public gathering at Bagh-e-Jinnah on Sunday and in this regard PTI Karachi chapter deposited Rs25 lakh security to Mazar-e-Quaid management.

The security has been deposited in the form of pay order. 

The provincial government had clarified that there was no ban on PTI to hold public rally, adding that permission had been given as per law.

Earlier, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that CM Afridi would be given complete protocol and foolproof security.

He said that CM Afridi will be given free hand for political activities. He said that if PTI will require any ground for rally then Sindh government will arrange it.

Memon said that Sindh government will facilitate PTI CM as per laws.

However, political and ideological differences between PPP and PTI will remain the same.

Reporters: Usama Malik and Aajiz Jamali