- PTI has been permitted by the district administration to stage a Labour Day rally
- PTI Govt Talks. “strategy” in place in case the talks failed. Fawad Ch.
- ECP stopped the political party from organising a rally on Labour Day.
- Chaudhry slammed the commission by saying that ECP is performing all tasks except for elections.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Lahore Rafia Haider issued the permission letter for the PTI rally.
The district administration granted the permission after receiving an undertaking from PTI for May 1 rally to be organised from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
Moreover, PTI was barred from establishing reception camps for the rally.
It further stated that the party’s administration will be responsible for security for all routes, whereas, the politicians will not deliver speeches against the judiciary and other national institutions.
It also bound PTI’s focal persons on security and other leaders to cooperate with the administration.
ECP stopped the political party from organising a rally on Labour Day.
Earlier Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Fawad Chaudhry claimed on Sunday that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) stopped the political party from organising a rally on Labour Day.
In a statement, Fawad Chaudhry said that ECP barred PTI from holding a public rally on May 1 (Labour Day) which is a surprise move. He added that May 1 is globally observed as Labour Day to express solidarity with the labourers.
He said that political parties across the globe organise rallies on Labour Day. Chaudhry slammed the commission by saying that ECP is performing all tasks except for elections.
He criticised ECP for banning the PTI rally and sending notices to its leaders. “Every move of the election commission is exhibiting partiality towards Imran Khan and banning PTI’s rally is illegal.”
The PTI president demanded the chief election commissioner (CEC) immediately withdraw the ‘illegal ban’ on PTI rallies in Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar.
ECP, in a notice to Imran Khan, stated that the political parties needed to get permission from the district administration for power shows and rallies for adequate security and other arrangements.
In another development, PTI has been permitted to stage a rally from Liberty Chowk to Nasir Bagh on May 1. The district administration granted the permission after receiving an undertaking from PTI for May 1 rally to be organised from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm.
Moreover, PTI was barred from establishing reception camps for the rally.
Earlier in the day, former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan said that the caretaker government is unconstitutional and PTI will demand its constitutional right in the upcoming rally in Lahore.
While addressing PTI workers and supporters via video link, Imran Khan said that PTI is going to organise a public rally from Liberty Chowk to Nasir Bagh tomorrow. He invited nationals to attend the rally to demand their constitutional rights.
He said the caretaker government is unconstitutional and PTI will demand its constitutional right.
“We have to stand beside the Supreme Court (SC) and the Constitution. These rulers are afraid and fleeing away from the elections.”
“PTI wants the success of negotiations [with the government], but it has formulated a strategy in case of failure of talks,” the former information minister tweeted.
He further said that PTI will not remain silent if government treats the Constitution as garbage and public as insects.
Fawad Chaudhry said that the rallies will begin in Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar under the leadership of party chairman Imran Khan.
It is pertinent to mention here that delegations of the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held two rounds of talks on holding elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
During the second round of talks, PTI delegation sought the date for the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA) before the budget.
After two rounds of talks, the parties are now expected to hold the final round of negotiations on May 2. The delegation also rejected the government’s plan to conduct general elections in October.
Yesterday, PTI decided to continue negotiations with the government regarding the framework for elections of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) within the bounds of the Constitution.
The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by party chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan at his residence in Lahore’s Zaman Park.
Majority of the participants opined that the talks with the government should continue despite the ‘illegal’ raid on Elahi’s house. The participants were of the view that such raids and arrests were ‘attempts to sabotage the talks’.