Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Gohar Ali Khan announced on Thursday that the public gathering in Islamabad has been postponed.
Accompanied by Azam Swati, the PTI Chairman informed the media that the decision to delay the event was made following directions from PTI founder Imran Khan.
Read more: Islamabad Cancels PTI Rally NOC at Last Minute
The political climate is tense as PTI had planned a rally in Islamabad, even though the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration revoked the permit late last night, prompting increased security measures across both Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Containers have been strategically placed around the Red Zone, blocking all routes leading to the area.
Security has been intensified in both cities, with access to the Red Zone restricted to government employees who can enter only by showing their office identification cards.
Adding to the traffic disruptions, Day 2 of the Pakistan-Bangladesh Cricket Test match is ongoing in Rawalpindi.
For the safety of players and spectators, Murree Road around the Cricket Stadium has been closed to regular traffic.
Due to these security precautions, the Islamabad administration has declared a holiday for all educational institutions across the city.
New Date for PTI Jalsa Announced
PTI leader Azam Swati announced that the public gathering has been rescheduled for September 8. He urged all PTI caravans to return home, following the orders of PTI founder Imran Khan.
The Islamabad administration proposed the new date of September 8 to PTI and issued a No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for the event in the name of PTI leader Aami Mughal. The NOC also instructed participants to avoid any anti-state or anti-religion slogans during the gathering.
Ravi Toll Plaza Situation
As PTI planned a rally in Islamabad today, the Motorway Ravi Toll Plaza in Lahore was closed from the Islamabad side, with traffic redirected to Babu Sabu Chowk, Sagian, and Ring Road. Lahore’s Chief Traffic Officer (CTO), Amara Athar, advised citizens to check the route plan before traveling and suggested calling helpline 15 for assistance.
Thokar Niaz Baig, Lahore
A large contingent of Lahore Police was deployed at Thokar Niaz Baig, where members of PTI’s women wing had gathered to join a caravan heading to the Lahore rally.
