ISLAMABAD: The capital administration has withdrawn a no-objection certificate (NOC) issued to the PPP for a public meeting and a new NOC was issued after chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, Rehman Malik took notice of some “ambiguities and illogical restrictions” mentioned in the first certificate.

The PPP had announced to hold a public meeting in connection with the party’s 50th founding day on Dec 5 at Parade Ground. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and other prominent leaders are scheduled to speak on the occasion.

The first NOC dated Nov 30, 2017 which was issued by the deputy commissioner Islamabad and is available with Dawn, listed a number of restrictions for the public meeting.

It says that though the district administration has no objections over the holding of the public meeting and the displaying of banners, streamers and flags on Dec 5 at Parade Ground and its surrounding areas, some conditions still apply.

New NOC issued after the old one put ‘illogical restrictions’ on use of loudspeakers, making of political speeches

Some of the conditions were that no loudspeakers will be allowed, deck sound will be restrained to the audience, no political or sectarian speeches will be made, no gambling will be allowed, particulars of invited persons will be provided to the concerned police station in advance and the NOC can be withdrawn at any time without notice.

The notification triggered criticism and also drew the attention of Rehman Malik, who directed the district administration to withdraw it.

He said some of the conditions were in clear violation of the Constitution and announced that if the NOC is not withdrawn, the issue will be discussed in the meeting of the Senate standing committee on Dec 4.

Mr Malik said that during the PPP government, the PML-N used to hold rallies and deliver speeches from Parade Avenue to D-Chowk. He asked how the PML-N could call itself a democratic party after issuing such an undemocratic NOC.

The district administration has now withdrawn the earlier NOC and issued a new one. The new NOC, dated Dec 2 and also available with Dawn, says the meeting will be from noon till 10pm.

According to the new NOC, anti-state, anti-religion, sectarian speeches and those against the ideology of Pakistan shall not be made.

The flag of any political or religious party or person will not be burnt, weapons will not be taken to the venue, a list of people to be allowed on stage is to be provided to the Islamabad Capital Territory administration at least 12 hours in advance, children under the age of 12 will not be allowed into the venue except if they are accompanied by their lawful guardians.

Talking to Dawn, Secretary Information Punjab Mustafa Nawaz Khokar said it was unfortunate that a religious group came to the federal capital, blocked its main roads and also used abusive language but the district administration was not moved.

“However, when a democratic party wants to hold a public meeting, the district administration says even political speeches cannot be made. If we cannot make political speeches, then what is the point of a political party holding a public meeting,” he asked.

“The Constitution allows us to celebrate the 50th foundation day of the party and no one can stop us from doing this. NOCs such as the one which was withdrawn should be issued to terrorist organisations, not to political parties,” he said.

Mr Khokar said it is strange that on Nov 28, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) had stopped the party from putting up streamers at Zero Point due to which the party filed a complaint against the CDA with the Aabpara police and then for an NOC to be issued to the party on Nov 30 directing it not to give political statements during a public meeting.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Senator Rashid Rabbani said the PPP’s public meeting at Parade Ground will have an unprecedented large audience and that some 8,000 people will come from Sindh to attend the meeting.

“Reception camps will be established at the railway station and Parade Grounds to receive workers. Thousands of workers will come from south Punjab as well,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2017