PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has said Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf will hold its planned public gathering in Islamabad even if the permission for holding the same is withdrawn by the capital’s administration, as PTI finalised its preparations for the power show.

Talking to participants of a marathon race on Friday night, Mr Gandapur claimed that he had received reports that the federal government had changed the venue of the party’s meeting, and that the Tarnol police had shifted the equipment from the venue of the gathering to the police station.

“I ask the police to bring back the equipment and place it at the venue otherwise I will forcibly bring it back and hold the jalsa,” he warned.

Mr Gandapur also said that the federal government first issued an NOC, but later ‘requested’ the party’s founder Imran Khan to cancel it due to the prevailing ‘precarious’ situation.

Lawmakers tasked with taking workers to the venue by 4pm

The chief minister declared that the same people, who had destroyed the country economically, were brought back into power.

“Those who brought them to power should also get this message that enough is enough,” he said in a video message on Saturday. He said that NROs were being given repeatedly to those who had looted the country.

“They loot the country, you give them NRO and take your share in the looted money,” he said.

Meanwhile, PTI has finalised its preparations for the rally in the federal capital as all members of the national as well as KP assemblies have been tasked with reaching the venue along with their workers by 4pm.

PTI Peshawar division president Mohammad Asim Khan said a convoy of vehicles from across the division would reach the Peshawar motorway interchange at 12 noon and would start moving towards Swabi.

He said PTI workers from Nowshera, Mardan and Charsadda would join the rally and would reach Swabi at around 2pm.

He said some 12,000 activists from the Peshawar division would be participating in the PTI gathering.

“We have decided to bring at least 1,000 people from each constituency,” Mr Khan told Dawn, adding that transportation facility would be provided to the party’s women and youth wings.

“Chief Minister Gandapur would reach Swabi at around 2pm.

In case there was any hurdle, CM Gandapur would lead us, but if the situation was normal, everyone has been told to reach Islamabad by 4pm on Sunday,” the PTI Peshawar division president said, adding ‘all the

required machinery including excavators’ would be part of convoy and could be used if there were any hurdles on their way to the venue.

Also, chief minister’s adviser on technical education and commerce Abdul Karim on Saturday said that they were well-prepared for the ‘final match’ to be played in Islamabad today (Sunday).

Talking to Dawn here on Saturday, he said all preparations for the party’s show were complete, and that they would act according to Mr Gandapur’s instructions.

Some party leaders said there was no possibility of cancelling the meeting. They also said ambulances, bulldozers, cranes and all necessary machinery was expected to reach Swabi soon in order to remove the barricades — if any.

They said workers were instructed to keep water, pieces of cloth, salt and other essential items with them to be used in the event of tear gas shelling.

Also, PTI leaders in Bajaur shared video messages on social media, asking workers to ensure their participation in the Islamabad meeting.

MPA Dr Hamidur Rahman said there was huge excitement among the party workers for the event meant to push for the early release of the incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan and other jailed leaders and workers of PTI.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2024