PTI Denied Permission for Rawalpindi Rally at Liaquat Bagh
Islamabad: The administration in Rawalpindi has rejected a request by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold a public rally at Liaquat Bagh.
According to reports, the Deputy Commissioner declined to issue a No Objection Certificate (NOC), and PTI Rawalpindi General Secretary Aqeel Khan was formally informed of the decision.
The administration stated that the matter was reviewed in a meeting of the District Intelligence Committee (DIC), where concerns over the current law and order situation and security threats were discussed. Officials noted that participants’ lives and property could be at risk in large public gatherings under the prevailing circumstances.
Authorities further said that Section 144 is already imposed in the city, while the large-scale deployment of security resources required for clearance of Liaquat Bagh is not feasible under the government’s austerity policy.
They added that ensuring safety at such a gathering would pose significant administrative, logistical, and financial challenges, and therefore, in light of the DIC’s unanimous decision, permission for the rally could not be granted.
PTI’s Response
In response, PTI stated that its request to hold a rally on April 9 at Liaquat Bagh had been rejected, emphasizing that holding a peaceful public gathering is a fundamental constitutional right of every political party.
PTI Rawalpindi District President Aqeel Khan confirmed that he had been informed of the refusal, while the administration maintained that the decision was based on security and law and order concerns.
Sources also revealed that the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), the custodian of Liaquat Bagh, opposed the rally, stating that the venue is now a recreational park rather than a political gathering site, and such events could damage plants and greenery.
