The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to move the venue of its August 13 public rally to Lahore from Islamabad.
The rally will be held at Lahore Hockey Ground on the night of August 13. PTI’s focal person Azhar Mashwani said, “PTI and the proud Pakistanis of Lahore will celebrate the 75th Independence Day in a grand manner at Hockey Stadium Lahore,” adding that Imran Khan will specially attend and address the occasion.
PTI leader Omar Ayub stated the PTI had been given permission for the rally at Islamabad’s Parade Ground. “But at the last moment, we found out that the Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) wanted to hold a protest there and it could have created problems.”
“Hence, we came to the conclusion that Lahore is the best location for the rally,” he added.
The development came after Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah warned the PTI leadership that they will not be allowed to create chaos and that only a peaceful rally in Islamabad will be allowed.
He said that PTI will be allowed to stage a peaceful rally, otherwise it will face treatment far worse than May 25.
On Monday, it was reported that TLP is set to gather at Faizabad on August 13 the same day as PTI was holding its public rally.
PTI plans to stay overnight at Parade Ground on Independence Day
Earlier, PTI said that the party would stay overnight at Islamabad’s Parade Ground between August 13 and 14.
The decision was made by PTI political committee that the public gathering will be held at Parade Ground on August 13.
Former Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that the PTI workers would gather at the Parade Ground in the evening on Saturday (August 13) for the rally and will stay there until August 14 to commemorate Independence Day.
Taking to his Twitter handle, Chaudhry said that the “imported government” is running away from elections but the people will not let them run away.
“On August 13, the entire nation will gather at Parade Ground in support of Imran Khan to hear the future roadmap,” he wrote, urging the party supporters to gear up for the final level. “It is either election or revolution.”
The public gathering was reportedly being held to pressurise the government into announcing fresh elections in the country.
Last week, PTI staged a protest at Islamabad’s F9 Park against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja.
