Sindh govt grants PTI permission for Karachi rally

KARACHI: The Sindh government has officially allowed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold a public rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah, Karachi.

The deputy commissioner East issued a written no-objection certificate (NOC) in response to PTI’s request, allowing the party to set up a pandal at the venue on Sunday.

Senior Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the NOC for the rally had been issued with specific conditions.

He said that the organisers would be fully responsible for maintaining law and order during the event.

He said that incitement, sectarian speeches, and anti-state rhetoric would not be allowed.

He said that traffic management during the rally would also be the responsibility of the organisers, and the event must conclude within the scheduled time.

He said that thehe district administration reserves the right to cancel permission on security grounds.

Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi led a rally to Bagh-e-Jinnah, where he inspected arrangements for the PTI rally scheduled for Sunday.

Along the route from the airport to Bagh-e-Jinnah and then to Karachi Press Club, Afridi was welcomed by PTI supporters who chanted slogans in support of the party founder.

At the Karachi Press Club, Afridi spoke to the media, saying he had no personal contact regarding negotiations.

He stressed that peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could not be achieved solely through military operations.

He said that if the prime minister called him for talks to eliminate terrorism in the province, he would attend.

Afridi called on the federal government, the KP government, political parties, and security agencies to work together for lasting peace.

Afridi said that negotiations with the government have been mandated to Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir.

He said that the PTI has launched a street movement demanding the release of the party founder and his wife, and the Karachi rally on January 11 would be a key part of this effort.

Afridi apologised to journalists for arriving late, citing the warm welcome from party workers.

He said he had come to Karachi under the direction of Imran Khan to support the street movement.

He expressed disappointment over the treatment of PTI parliamentarians in Punjab, describing it as “regrettable,” and said he had come to meet party workers and organisational friends in Sindh.

Afridi stated that PTI’s goal in the movement was not to seize power but to restore rule of law and free media.

He criticised the detention of the party leader, his wife, and denied access for family members to meet him in Adiala jail.

Afridi said the PTI leader was the most popular politician, and his government was removed illegally on April 9. He called the fight of PTI “not just ours, but everyone’s.”

He also criticised media restrictions, saying the treatment of journalists showed a rising trend of authoritarianism.

Afridi said PTI remained confident in the support of people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and across Pakistan, noting that the public had given Imran Khan a mandate for a third term in KP.