Adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, announced on Sunday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, currently incarcerated, has “decided” to hold a public rally in Islamabad on August 22.
“We assure there will be no law and order issues,” Saif stated during a press conference in Islamabad, emphasizing that the party will aim to avoid any legal violations.
Saif’s announcement comes amid PTI’s ongoing struggle to secure permission for a public gathering in the federal capital, which authorities have repeatedly denied due to security concerns.
In June, Justice Babar Sattar of the Islamabad High Court, while hearing a PTI petition seeking rally permission, urged the party and city administration to resolve the matter amicably. Following this, the deputy commissioner allowed PTI to hold a gathering.
However, Islamabad Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa later suspended the No Objection Certificate (NOC), citing the onset of Muharram, security concerns, and local complaints.
In response, PTI sought contempt of court proceedings against those responsible for the NOC’s suspension. After the court dismissed PTI’s plea, the party once again requested district administration approval for a public meeting on August 13 in Islamabad.
For months, the former ruling party has been striving to hold a public rally. Barrister Saif’s announcement follows a statement by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur earlier this month, asserting the party’s determination to hold a public gathering in Islamabad.
“No one can stop us from staging a rally,” Gandapur had declared during a PTI event in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, marking the one-year imprisonment of Khan.
Regarding the upcoming rally, Saif mentioned that a significant number of attendees from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are expected. He also noted that Imran Khan had stressed the importance of the party working with the administration and courts, urging against creating further division by imposing barriers.
