PTI Islamabad power show postponed after NOC cancelation

The Islamabad Chief Commissioner recently suspended the no-objection certificate (NOC) granted to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for a public gathering, just one day before the scheduled event. PTI chairman Barrister Gohar informed the media that the NOC had been issued following a four-month request process, but was then unexpectedly canceled by the commissioner. Gohar contends that the commissioner lacks the authority to suspend the NOC and announced that PTI has approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to contest the suspension, with a hearing expected on Monday.

A contempt plea has also been filed in the IHC against the suspension, urging the court to initiate proceedings against the officials responsible. The plea, filed by the Coordinator of Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aein Khanzaada Hussain, names several officials, including the Chief Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, Inspector General, and Superintendent of Police Tarnol, as respondents. The petition asserts that the Deputy Commissioner had informed the court on July 4 about the NOC issuance. 

However, after the NOC was issued and the Islamabad High Court had disposed of the application, PTI leader Amir Mughal was reportedly arrested by police outside the Deputy Commissioner's office while en route to the event site. The court had previously granted PTI permission for the gathering near Tarnol Chowk on July 6.