As the PTI’s long march continues its journey toward the federal capital, the party Monday filed a petition at the Islamabad High Court, seeking permission to conduct its jalsa and sit-in in addition to providing security to marchers. The petition, filed by PTI leader Ali Nawaz Awan, mentions that the party has held several public rallies, seminars, corner meetings, public gatherings, and conventions in the past. It stated that PTI is a peaceful party and does not believe in confrontation with state institutions. It has, therefore, sought the court’s permission to gather the marchers in the capital city and hold a sit-in at the Srinagar Highway between H-9 and G-9 area and near the Weekly Bazar – which falls under the deputy commissioner’s administrative control – following the Supreme Court of Pakistan’s decision.
The petition added that the PTI was not granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the DC, despite having written a letter on October 26 deeming the delay “malafide”. The party, in its petition to the IHC, mentioned that it contacted the DC again on October 28, but was refused permission citing the act as a “sheer attempt to usurp, hamper and infringe the fundamental rights of freedom of assembly, association, and speech”. The party has named the federal government and the interior ministry for violating the constitutional rights of PTI at the behest of DC Islamabad. The Islamabad Capital Territory Police has also been named as one of the respondents in the petition. The PTI has, therefore, approached the court assuring to abide by the law and Constitution during its long march in the federal capital and has sought protection citing it as the party’s fundamental right.
