NOC for PTI’s tomorrow rally in Islamabad revoked

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad administration has once again revoked the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) public gathering, which was scheduled to take place in Tarnol on August 22.

This decision was made during a meeting of the Intelligence Committee, chaired by the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad. The administration cited concerns over protests planned by religious parties as the reason for denying permission for the gathering.

Despite the cancellation of the NOC, PTI Islamabad President Amir Mughal insisted that the public gathering would proceed as planned.

He emphasized that a ‘peaceful’ political struggle is the party’s constitutional and legal right and reiterated the decision to hold the gathering as scheduled. Mughal also invited the public to attend the ‘peaceful’ event at 4 PM on August 22.

Previously, on July 24, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had nullified the Chief Commissioner’s order to revoke the NOC for a PTI public gathering in the capital. IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq issued a five-page written order instructing the Islamabad administration to reconsider PTI’s application for an NOC in accordance with the law.

The court also directed the administration to provide reasons for approving or rejecting PTI’s request, stating that the NOC had been revoked without notifying PTI, which the court deemed unlawful.

PTI had earlier filed a petition against the Chief Commissioner’s order to revoke the NOC for a public gathering near Tarnol Chowk on July 6, citing concerns about law and order ahead of Ashura.

A contempt of court plea was subsequently filed in the Islamabad High Court by Khanzaada Hussain, accusing officials of disregarding the court’s order by canceling the NOC despite the ruling.