Local administration allows PAT to hold rally in Lahore

Tehreek Minhaj-ul-Quran had submitted a request to DCO Lahore seeking permission to hold a public meeting to mark protest against the killing of its workers in clashes with police in Lahore’s Model Town on June 17, 2014.

After hectic negotiations, the City District Government Lahore gave permission amidst reservations that there are threat alerts to public gatherings. The local administration further conveyed to the PAT leadership that Lahore High Court (LHC) has also imposed ban on holding rallies/gatherings at the Mall.

The district government has also suggested the PAT leadership for changing the venue of Jalsa to Nasir Bagh or another closed avenue.

However, the PAT leadership insisted that they would hold their meeting at the Mall following which the district government after consultation with the provincial government gave them the conditional approval that they would have to take responsibility of any untoward incident.

The district government also issued a 38-point of Code of Conduct for the rally that charged PAT volunteers with the responsibility to control participants of the rally.

Awami Tehreek will not force anyone to close their businesses at the Mall Road and the participants will not burn any effigy or flag of any political, religious party, it read.