‘Unidentified’ hands hoist corruption banners against Imran

PTI accuses government of interfering with Parade Ground rally preparations

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday accused the incumbent government of interfering with the party’s preparations for the Parade Ground rally in Islamabad.

Former interior minister and party leader Sheikh Rashid Ahmed claimed banners with statements against party chief Imran Khan were hung in Rawalpindi prior to the rally.

Alongside Rashid, other leaders of the former ruling party alleged that the government had attempted to interfere with the rally’s preparations.

The banners were allegedly put up on Friday night.

Banners on Rawalpindi Ring Road read, “PTI’s involvement in corruption exposed”. Others had allegations of money laundering by Farah Gogi, a close associate of Imran’s wife.

The banners also accused Imran of corruption. One such banner read: “Imran Khan’s assets have increased by 250% in five years. The people of Rawalpindi and Islamabad reject Imran Khan.”

The former interior minister accused the incumbent coalition government of being involved in the incident.

Rashid added that party workers managed to restrain three people involved in the act, who were later taken to the Sadqabad Police Station.

“They have called thugs to interfere with the protest. In my 25 years of politics in Rawalpindi, I have never seen such behaviour,” the PTI leader added.

PTI’s Asad Umar claimed that the government attempted to delay preparations of the Parade Ground in Islamabad, however, PTI workers laboured all night to complete arrangements.

PTI Sindh President Ali Haider Zaidi and former federal minister also accused the Sindh government of creating hurdles in the process of setting up screens in the province to view Imran Khan’s speech.

Earlier, the PTI had given an undertaking to the district administration of Islamabad and agreed to 39 conditions for holding a rally on July 2.

PTI Islamabad chapter president of the central secretariat Ali Nawaz Awan signed the undertaking – code of conduct – before Islamabad’s deputy commissioner taking full responsibility for any untoward incident and agreeing to be held responsible in case of violation of the agreement.

Through the code of conduct, the party agreed that the gathering shall not disturb or disrupt the fundamental rights of citizens, including the right to freedom of movement, trade and business, and education, and has assured that it will not block any road – Expressway, Murree Road or service roads.

The former ruling party agreed that the gathering shall end at 12 midnight, stating that it will be the organiser’s duty to ensure the dispersal after the event ends.

It nodded that the participants shall not indulge in violence or clashes. Under the agreement, the organisers are bound to ensure that the participants are dispersed peacefully, and they do not spend the night or subsequent nights at the Parade ground

The PTI also agreed that the participants shall not enter the Red Zone of Islamabad; organisers are responsible for internal security arrangements of the participants and providing the list of the participants to the local police in advance; and that they will be responsible for any damage caused to the public or private property.

In the code, it signed a condition that no anti-state, religious, and anti-national slogans shall be made; effigy or flag of any party shall not be burnt; weapons would not be allowed, and the law enforcers can search any vehicle or person coming to attend the gathering.

The undertaking also stated that the organisers will respect the fundamental human rights of other stakeholders and the general public.