PTI rally: Schools in Islamabad to remain closed today

In response to the upcoming public rally organized by PTI and a simultaneous protest call by a religious party, the district administration has announced the closure of all public and private Schools in Islamabad for Thursday.

The PTI, led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, is scheduled to hold a rally in the federal capital today, despite having its non-objection certificate (NOC) revoked by the district administration. The cancellation of the NOC came after a report from the district intelligence committee raised security concerns.

The Islamabad district administration decided to close schools to ensure the safety of students amid heightened security risks. The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Islamabad Chief Commissioner Chaudhry Mohammad Ali Randhawa. The meeting also included discussions with Islamabad Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ali Nasir Rizvi, who highlighted the difficulties in managing crowds due to multiple concurrent events in the city.

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The administration noted that the presence of the Bangladesh cricket team in Islamabad and recent protests reaching sensitive locations, such as the Supreme Court building, contributed to the decision. The authorities expressed concerns about the challenges in controlling the large crowds expected at the PTI rally.

PTI Islamabad President Amir Mughal affirmed that the party’s rally would proceed despite the revocation of the NOC. “A peaceful political struggle is our constitutional and legal right,” Mughal stated, emphasizing the party’s determination to continue with their planned event.

Imran Khan, who was ousted as prime minister in 2022, had planned the rally as part of a prolonged effort to demonstrate PTI’s political strength in the capital.