ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday gave a two-week deadline for the release of its jailed party leader as it flexed its political muscle in Islamabad with a rally, amid scuffles with police.
The ultimatum was given by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur as he addressed the participants of the rally at Sangjani.
“If the founder of PTI is not legally freed within one to two weeks, we will have him freed ourselves,” he said. The rally started with tight security in Islamabad as the participants of the rally gathered at the venue — Sangjani locality on Sunday evening.
The former ruling party had been finally permitted to hold the gathering on Sunday under a no-objection certificate (NOC) issued earlier in the week, following postponing it twice — once in July and then in August — as the officials revoked the permission. The multiple delays drew scathing criticism from other workers and leaders for not being able to hold the rally.
However, tensions escalated in the federal capital as the rally’s official deadline of 7 pm ended. The Islamabad district administration had notified the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf about the time limit, warning that any violation would lead to action. As the deadline finished, police personnel began enforcing the NOC’s terms, turning off loudspeakers and closing entry points into Islamabad.
The enforcement led to clashes between the police and PTI workers. Protesters pelted stones at law enforcement, resulting in injuries to several officials, including Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Shoaib Khan.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed deep concern for the injured officers and instructed authorities to provide them with medical care. Additional forces were deployed to the site where the clashes initially took place.
