The district administration of Islamabad has granted permission to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold a rally in the provincial capital on August 22, as informed to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday.
Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb presided over the hearing of a contempt of court petition, which was filed due to an alleged delay in granting permission for a PTI protest. The PTI lawyer argued that a request for a protest on July 26 was submitted on July 22. The court, however, pointed out that two orders had been issued and noted that protests or rallies were permitted after August 20.
Addressing the PTI lawyer, the court indicated that the contempt of court claim had no merit in this situation. The judge remarked that the blocking of Faizabad during past protests, like the sit-in at Islamabad’s D-Chowk, had caused significant harm, including the loss of lives due to blocked ambulance access.
In discussions with the state council, the court emphasized that permission for protests should not be influenced by a party’s political standing. The court expressed concern over protests being held in parks, advocating for designated areas for such activities to preserve public spaces and avoid turning the country into a “banana republic.” The current climate, the court added, might be discouraging people from visiting Pakistan.
Justice Miangul questioned the validity of the contempt of court claim and stated that he would pass an order on the matter. The state council confirmed that the district administration had granted PTI permission to hold a rally on August 22.
The PTI lawyer clarified that their application was for a protest outside the Press Club, not a rally, and that the case for rally permission was pending in the Chief Justice’s court. Justice Miangul noted that the Election Commission has access to political parties’ financial details and suggested that the accounts of parties causing damage to the national treasury during protests could be attached.
The judge emphasized that the court’s role in this contempt of court case was not to grant rally permissions. He concluded by stating that the district administration had rejected PTI’s initial application, not to earn praise, but to demonstrate due process.
Earlier, on July 6, PTI cancelled a planned rally in Islamabad following a legal dispute with local authorities over the revocation of a No Objection Certificate (NOC). PTI leader Omar Ayub criticized the Islamabad administration for revoking the permit over security concerns. Last week, the IHC had rejected PTI’s request to hold a protest, citing security concerns and the ongoing lockdown in Islamabad.
Nevertheless, PTI announced nationwide protests on August 5 to demand the release of its founder, Imran Khan, and to address the severe inflation affecting the public.
