ISLAMABAD: Chungi No 26, on the outskirts of the capital, turned into a battleground on Sunday night as police clashed with PTI supporters after the latter allegedly refused to stick to the designated routes for the public gathering in Sangjani.

Police officers told Dawn that a few dozen supporters appeared at the intersection, seeking to move towards the venue of the public gathering. However, traffic police personnel asked them to follow the designated route, as the route they wanted to use was meant for the general public.

However, police claimed that supporters ignored the instructions and insisted on using the same route, which caused tensions to rise before PTI supporters stated pelting police with stones.

In response, the police party retaliated and resorted to baton charge and tear gas shelling. Dozen of protesters were also arrested and bundled into prison vans, and were later taken to different police installations.

During the skirmishes, which continued for around 90 minutes, a number of police officials —including the SSP Safe City Shoaib Khan — sustained injures and were taken to hospital for medical assistance, Islamabad police said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). Later, police claimed they managed to disperse the troublemakers and restored order in the area.

In a separate statement, the Interior Ministry said that Mohsin Naqvi had taken notice of the stone-pelting incident and ordered the Islamabad police chief to submit a report.

The minister also called SSP Khan to inquire after his health.

Time frame exceeded

A dispute with the district administration over the agreed timeframe for the event also caused consternation among official circles, with the district magistrate issuing a notice to PTI Islamabad President Amir Mughal for the violation of the terms and conditions of the public gathering.

The capital administration approached the organisers of the public gathering around 6pm and informed them that they had to conclude the gathering at the specified time.

An officer of the capital administration said the NOC issued to PTI for holding the gathering on Sep 8 was valid from 4pm to 6pm.

The notice issued from the office of the district magistrate stated that an NOC was issued on Sep 6 for holding the gathering at Islamabad, and the organisers were intimated and advised to proceed strictly in accordance with the conditions and SOPs referred to in the NOC for the jalsa, which was to be held in an orderly and peaceful manner.

“It appears that you and the management holding the jalsa at Sangjani, Islamabad have proceeded in a manner which is a defiant violation of the NOC issued in this regard. You have expressly violated the terms of the NOC and the repeated reminders issued by the capital administration. The developing situation at the site of Jalsa has given rise to a serious law and order situation,” the notice read.

“I hereby direct you and the management/administration of jalsa at Sangjani, Islamabad to disperse immediately. The capital administration and police are hereby directed to proceed and take strict action against the violators and members of unlawful assembly in accordance with law,” the magistrate’s order said.

But despite these warnings, law enforcement did not interfere with the public meeting, which was still underway at the time of going to press.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2024