ISLAMABAD: A showdown between the law enforcement agencies and the opposition PTI is expected in the federal capital today (on Saturday) after the district administration on Friday cancelled the no-objection certificate that had been issued to the party, as the PTI leadership declared that the party would go ahead with its planned power show, come what may.

The PTI had moved the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for getting the NOC from the administration and the IHC disposed of the petition on Thursday when state counsel claimed that the NOC had already been granted for the PTI rally at Tarnol Chowk.

However, the Islamabad administration in an official press release issued on Friday without naming the party stated the NOC for the “political gathering” had been cancelled due to “security issues”.

It said the decision to cancel the NOC was taken at a meeting, presided over by the Islamabad’s chief commissioner, held on Friday to review the security arrangements in Islamabad for Muharram and some other issues. It stated that a political party, despite being invited, did not attend the meeting.

A local administration official claimed Tarnol area residents had submitted applications, requesting the administration not to allow the political gathering for security reasons. The applications also came under discussion at the meeting, he said.

The press release said the NOC issued by the deputy commissioner, Islamabad, was reviewed afresh in the wake of security concerns and the chief commissioner while keeping in view the current security situation, advent of Muharram, security concerns and reports of law enforcement agencies, decided to cancel the NOC issued for the political gathering. It said the decision had been made to protect property and lives of the citizens.

While PTI’s Islamabad president Aamir Mughal had already been arrested by police, opposition leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan in an informal interaction with reporters said his party would go ahead with the planned public meeting.

“We will hold the public meeting, come what may. We know how to hold the public meeting. We are the people who stay in the field,” said Omar Ayub while terming the local administration decision ‘mala fide’. He said the government was taking such steps out of frustration. He regretted the administration had cancelled the NOC that had been issued only after IHC’s intervention.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2024