Pak: Opposition Alliance Approaches Court To Seek Permission For Rally

The multi-party opposition alliance, Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan, has requested permission to hold a public gathering in Islamabad, according to ARY News.

This alliance, known as Tehreek Tahafuz Aayeen-i-Pakistan, which is a coalition of opposition parties, has decided to launch a campaign across the country for the “restoration” of the Constitution, with power shows planned in Karachi and Faisalabad, as reported by Dawn.

This request follows approaches by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Amir Mughal and the alliance’s focal person Akhunzada Yousafzai to the Islamabad administration seeking permission to hold a public gathering on June 8th at F-9 Park, as per ARY News. The alliance mentioned that Islamabad High Court (IHC) had already granted permission for the gathering.

The applicants stated that the public gathering, initially planned for March, was postponed due to the last days of Ramadan, according to ARY News.

Earlier, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) granted permission for a public gathering following a petition by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The PTI approached the IHC through its counsel and PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat, naming the Secretary of Interior, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad as respondents. The PTI also requested the court to order the authorities to refrain from using force against anyone attending the public meeting.

On May 16, Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan also moved the courts to seek permission to hold a rally in Faisalabad on May 17 as part of its movement to ‘save’ Pakistan’s constitution, Dawn reported.

As part of its movement, the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan decided to hold power shows in Faisalabad and Karachi.

Addressing a lawyer’s convention in Faisalabad, Sunni Ittehad Council head Hamid Raza said they had decided to go ahead with the rally even if the government did not give permission. However, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan was not in favor of the idea, saying PTI workers would bear the brunt. He added that Imran Khan asked his legal team to move the courts for permission.

The alliance head, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, said he called on Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to order the Punjab police chief to permit the public gathering in the city, as he also supported her father Nawaz Sharif’s narrative for civilian supremacy.

In April, the six-party alliance decided to begin a nationwide movement for the rule of law and selected Mahmood Khan Achakzai as its president. The opposition’s decision to launch the campaign was aimed at protecting the Constitution.