The Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi has rejected the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) request for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to hold a rally at Liaquat Bagh.
According to reports, PTI Rawalpindi General Secretary Aaqil Khan was formally informed of the NOC denial.
The administration stated that the District Intelligence Committee (DIC) reviewed the request in light of current law-and-order conditions and security concerns. It was concluded that participants’ lives and property could be at risk at public gatherings under the present circumstances.
Officials noted that Section 144 is in effect in Rawalpindi, and deploying sufficient security resources to safeguard Liaquat Bagh is not feasible under the government’s austerity policy. The administration said meeting the logistical, financial, and safety requirements to secure a public gathering at this time poses significant challenges, and therefore the NOC cannot be granted.
In response, PTI said that the request for the April 9 rally at Liaquat Bagh had been rejected. The party emphasized that peaceful public gatherings are a constitutional right of every political party.
PTI Rawalpindi District President Aaqil Khan said he had been officially informed about the decision, with the administration citing law-and-order and security concerns as the reason for denial.
Sources indicated that the Liaquat Bagh custodian, the Pakistan Housing Authority (PHA), also opposed the rally, arguing that the park is now a recreational area, and public gatherings could damage plants and landscaping.