ISLAMABAD:The PTI leadership decided to relocate its upcoming June 8 rally to Swat, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, after the federal capital’s administration refused to permit the party to stage its protest in Rawat — a town that fell under the Islamabad Capital Territory’s (ICT) jurisdiction — against the alleged theft of mandate in the February 8 general elections.
Expressing its dissatisfaction over the Islamabad administration’s denial of issuing a rally permit at the desired location, the PTI has not only changed its venue but announced that it would challenge the decision in court as well.
While moving from Rawat to Swat, the party declared that it had the fundamental right to hold rallies across the country to engage the people in the democratic process.
The decision to shift the rally’s venue was made during a party meeting, which was attended by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan; General Secretary and Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub; K-P Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur; ex-NA speaker Asad Qaiser; and Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan among others.
The PTI leadership said the decision reflected the party’s determination to confront the alleged electoral theft and mobilise public support despite the administrative hurdles.The party has also invited the leaders of the opposition alliance to join the rally in Swat, saying they should stand united against the alleged electoral malpractices.
In addition, as the PTI is in power in K-P, the rally will now have backing of the provincial government.
The party officials said consultations with the K-P chief minister had already been completed for this purpose.
A party statement quoted the spokesperson for the opposition alliance, Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), as saying that not only would it participate in the rally, but also stage a “grand power show” in Swat on June 8.
The opposition alliance says that the movement will not only hold public gatherings but also engage bar associations, university students and other parties to muster their support for the campaign against the PML-N-led coalition government.
