- Bill calls for up to three years in prison for “unlawful assembly.”
- Gohar says allied parties will attend PTI rally on September 8.
- Two PTI workers arrested ahead of jalsa, says PTI chief
ISLAMABAD: Just a day ahead of the much-hyped Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally in the federal capital, the “Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Bill, 2024”, which was aimed at regulating public gatherings, came into effect after President Asif Ali Zardari signed it into law.
The development comes two days after it was approved by both houses of parliament, the Senate and the National Assembly (NA), amid strong protests by opposition PTI lawmakers.
The new bill empowers the district magistrate to regulate and prohibit public gatherings in the federal capital, proposing a punishment of up to three years and/or an unspecified fine for members of an “illegal gathering.”
He also proposed that repeat offenders be punished with prison sentences of up to 10 years.
The bill says the ban on assembly under the proposed law would remain in effect for the period specified by the district magistrate, which could be extended if the conditions requiring the ban persist.
“An officer in charge of a police station, on the instructions of the district magistrate, may order that any assembly which is likely to disturb the public peace be dispersed. In such event, the members of such assembly shall be duty bound to comply with the order and disperse accordingly,” it reads.
Meanwhile, the party founded by Imran Khan is all set to hold its public meeting tomorrow (Sunday), which was shifted a day earlier to an open area at the junction of new Margalla Road, Iran Avenue, and GT Road, Sangjani.
A notification from the district magistrate's office confirmed the change, stating: “In continuation of office letter No. 10(3)-HC(G)/2024 dated 05-09-2024, permission is hereby granted for a public meeting/jalsa “On 8th September 2024, at the open space located at the intersection of New Margalla Avenue, Iran Avenue and GT Road, Sangjani, Islamabad. This location is 200 meters from the site notified above as indicated on Google Maps. The routes and terms and conditions notified above remain unchanged.”
The district administration had given a no-objection certificate (NOC) to the former ruling party to hold jalsa on September 8th.
The top leadership of the opposition party has been facing criticism from party leaders and workers for failing to hold the public meeting in Islamabad after abruptly cancelling its August 22 rally and rescheduling it for September 8 after the local administration revoked the NOC and closed roads leading to the federal capital, citing security concerns.
PTI leaders Gohar Ali Khan and Azam Swati claimed that the meeting was postponed on the instructions of party founder Imran Khan after they met the jailed politician at 7:00 am in Adiala Jail.
However, cracks appeared within the PTI after several party leaders, including Imran's sister Aleema Khan, contradicted the statements of the top leaders.
Expressing her lack of confidence in the current PTI leadership, Aleema claimed that the PTI leaders have “no real intention” to release the former prime minister from jail.
In a short audio clip, he also asked why Swati visited Imran early in the morning and who instructed her to do so.
'Jalsa It has already started'
Speaking to reporters today, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar said that the party jalsa has already begun, noting that all its allied parties will attend tomorrow's public meeting in Islamabad.
Responding to a question, Gohar said he was unable to meet the party's founder Imran Khan, who is in jail, due to ongoing preparations for the rally.
The PTI chief claimed that two party workers were arrested and requested the district administration not to create obstacles as they have got the NOC.
He said the demonstration will begin tomorrow (Sunday) at 2 p.m. and “we will try to finish it at the indicated time.”
On the other hand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur said that the “historic” September 8 jalsa will be as successful as the general elections of February 8, in which the party in conflict won the majority of seats in the National Assembly.
He said Pakistan's economy had been destroyed after those who had “plundered” the country were “installed” in power.
