PTI rally in Islamabad: There was a clash between the police and the supporters of former PM Imran Khan’s party PTI in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad. Actually, the PTI party was holding a rally on Sunday (September 8) to garner support for the release of Imran Khan, who has been in jail since last August 2023. At present, the rally is over.
According to Pakistan’s news website ‘Dawn’, PTI leaders held a rally on the outskirts of Islamabad on Sunday (September 8). In which the party leaders paid tributes to their founder imran khan They demanded the “immediate release” of the accused. Along with this, they criticized the Pakistan government for marginalizing the party. During this, a clash broke out between the police and the activists. In such a situation, the police released tear gas to disperse the crowd.
10 facts related to the clash between PTI supporters and police in Islamabad
- Police officials say that, at the end of the rally, PTI supporters clashed with the police as the police tried to disperse them. According to the police, the local administration had set a time limit for the rally, but when the deadline was exceeded, the police had to try to disperse the supporters, which led to clashes and eventually tear gas shells were fired.
- Police said that by exceeding the time limit, the rally organisers have violated the rules laid down in the NOC issued to the party. Therefore, the Islamabad DC ordered the police to disperse the attendees, directing the police and administration to take strict action.
- According to the notification dated September 8, the scheduled timing of the PTI rally was from 4 pm to 7 pm. The notification said that the rally organisers were informed about the timing at 6 pm. The PTI party was holding the rally on Sunday (September 8) to garner support for the release of Imran, who has been in jail since last August. Imran was expected to be released from jail after the District and Sessions Court accepted his appeal against his sentence in the Iddat case.
- The district administration had earlier this week issued the NOC for the public gathering on the outskirts of Islamabad with the condition that the permission can be revoked at any time in case of a “security situation”. Since the rally venue is a 350-kanal campus located on Paswal Road near Sangjani, it is under the control of the Pakistan Army.
- PTI leaders say that while the party was finalising its preparations for the rally, the police had closed almost all entry points to the city amid intelligence reports of a “medium-level” terror threat in view of the political gathering.
- Clashes broke out between police and PTI workers at Chongi No. 26 Chongi where the workers allegedly pelted stones at police officials who retaliated. According to police, several policemen, including Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Safe City Shoaib Khan, were injured in the clash.
- Meanwhile, the police continued to fire tear gas to disperse the party workers from the rally area. Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi took cognizance of the clashes. Along with this, a report has been sought from the Islamabad Police Inspector General.
- The rally was initially scheduled to be held in July and later in August, but was postponed twice after authorities revoked permission, citing security risks and fears of unrest.
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For the past several months, the PTI had been trying to get permission for a public meeting in the capital. But the administration did not allow it. When there was no response from the district administration, in March (2024), the party approached the Islamabad High Court for permission.
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In July, the PTI had announced a protest. But it was postponed as the district administration did not grant the party permission to hold the protest. The meeting was rescheduled for August 22. However, the district administration cancelled the NOC at the last minute and gave a new date of September 8.