- PTI’s Haleem Adil criticizes delay of NOC by Sindh government.
- He says police blocked containers and evicted vendors.
- Sindh minister LG says NOC was delayed only two to three hours.
KARACHI: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will hold a public rally in Karachi today after a brief friction with the Sindh government over the venue and timing.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who is currently in Sindh, announced today’s public rally in the megacity. He arrived in Karachi on Friday on a three-day visit to the province as part of the PTI’s street mobilization movement to mark the first anniversary of the February 8 “fraud” elections held in 2024.
The meeting will now take place at Jinnah Garden (Bagh-e-Jinnah) this afternoon, following the issuance of a no-objection certificate (NOC) by the Sindh administration.
Rally plans finalized after delay
PTI Sindh president Haleem Adil Sheikh said the party would proceed with the rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah after obtaining official permission.
He said the PTI had initially announced at 5 pm on Friday that the event would be held in front of the public gate of Mazar-e-Quaid. However, the NOC was issued after 6:30 pm, leaving organizers with limited time to make arrangements.
“The late issuance of the NOC created logistical challenges,” he said. “However, the demonstration will take place today as planned.”
Sheikh added that the party had earlier planned street protests, but the provincial government advised the PTI to hold a single public meeting instead of organizing street processions.
“The government itself asked us to avoid gatherings in the streets and opt for a public meeting,” he said.
He also alleged that police evicted vendors and prevented containers from reaching the venue, describing the move as an attempt to hamper preparations for the demonstration.
“The Sindh government is trying to present itself positively by granting permission for the rally,” Sheikh said, in apparent reference to the late approval.
Sindh government downplays tensions
Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah said the provincial administration had no intention to obstruct the rally of the Imran Khan-led party.
“There was only a delay of two to three hours in the issuance of the NOC,” he said. “If PTI requires chairs, containers or manpower, we are prepared to facilitate them.”
He expressed confidence that the party would stick to the approved venue.
“There is still enough time for the PTI to complete the preparations. They can hold the rally this afternoon or later tonight,” he said.
Shah suggested that PTI should consider postponing the rally by a day to give more time for preparations.
“The PTI should be given one more day to organize the rally properly,” he said.
However, Sindh Home Minister Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar issued a firm warning that any attempt to hold road protests would not be tolerated.
“PTI has been given permission to hold its rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah. No protests will be allowed on the streets,” he said. “The government will not allow anyone to challenge the state order.”
KP-Sindh CM meeting
A meeting between Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and his KP counterpart Afridi, scheduled for Saturday, was postponed due to official commitments, sources said.
Minister Nasir Hussain Shah later clarified that the meeting had not been formally fixed for Saturday and is now expected to take place on Monday.
PTI leaders rejected claims that the KP chief minister was eager to meet his Sindh counterpart. It is incorrect to say that CM Afridi was desperate for this meeting, Sheikh claimed, confirming that the meeting will take place on Monday.
