LARKANA: Amid criticism of the Sindh government and the Larkana district administration by the central and provincial leadership of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) over a delay in granting permission to hold a public meeting in Larkana on Nov 21, it was officially announced on Monday evening that the mandatory permission had been granted.

The announcement was made by Larkana Deputy Commissioner Ganhwar Ali Leghari in the presence of PTI district chapter leaders and the Larkana SSP.

Mr Leghari said that the district administration had received an application for permission on October 30 and it had since been under process. No obstacles were put in the process, he categorically stated in response to the PTI central and district leadership’s allegations being levelled over the past few days.

The DC said that the administration was bound to entertain the request and it did so.

He told journalists that the PTI wanted to hold its public meeting at Ali Abad in Bakrani taluka on Nov 21 and the request was forwarded to Larkana SSP Nisar Ahmed Channa and the special branch. In the meantime, he added, the applicant, Shafqat Hussain Unnar of the PTI, was asked to sign a 15-point undertaking to ensure the peaceful holding of the event.

He said he held meetings with Mr Unnar on Nov 15 and 16 and also visited the public meeting venue along with him.

He said the SSP and the special branch submitted their reports to him on Monday and the undertaking was also signed the same day by the PTI leader. Accordingly, the permission was issued in the presence of PTI Larkana district chief Bakht Jamal Chandio and Syed Quat Ali Shah, the focal person nominated by Mr Unnar, the DC said.

Earlier in the day, PTI activists Khurram Sher Zaman, Syed Hafeezuddin and Dr Seema Zia told a press conference at the Karachi Press Club that the Sindh government was not granting permission for the Larkana public meeting.They said the government was asking for a 22-point undertaking which suggested that it was not ready to grant the permission. “But we are here to make it clear that we will be doing that crossing all barriers,” said Mr Hafeezuddin.

Published in Dawn, November 18th, 2014