JUI-F issued NOC for Azadi March, points of entry for marchers decided – Pakistan

ISLAMABAD / RAWALPINDI: The administration of the Territory of the Capital of Islamabad (ICT) issued to the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) a certificate of no objection (NOC) to celebrate its Azadi March in the city on the 31st of October.

Administration officials said the NOC was issued after receiving reports from the police operations division and the Special Branch (the police intelligence wing), although these reports recommended not allowing the march.

The Special Branch also referred to a specific threat alert issued by the National Anti-Terrorism Authority and the Ministry of Interior that said that the leaders of the national party JUI-F, PTI, PML-N, PPP and Awami and the Police authorities could be targeted by terrorist attacks. .

The NOC was issued by Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat. Event organizers were asked to submit a commitment to comply with the terms and conditions of the certificate, officials said.

Shafqaat has allowed the JUI-F to make the march on the right of way H-9 through the weekly market with "temporary parking" in the parking lot of the metro bus station.

The NOC states that the JUI-F will be responsible for making internal security arrangements for the participants, a list of which will also be shared beforehand with the local police. No damage to public or private property will be caused, and in case of any damage, the organizer will be responsible.

The organizers will also assume responsibility that the participants will not move beyond the identified boundaries of the place and that they will not rule against the state, any religion or ideology of Pakistan.

No weapons or firearms of any kind will be allowed near the site, but everything necessary for the internal security of the participants will be subject to the approval of the administration, says the NOC.

He also said that participants and organizers must adhere to police parking and traffic management plans, and that police and law enforcement will not be hampered while checking or registering vehicles or people attending the event.

The organizers and the police will jointly search for the participants upon entering, and the organizers will be responsible for any human injury or health problem caused by internal arrangements within the site.

The organizers will also ensure the safety of the participants, including the maintenance of a 45-meter minimum recoil area between the stage and the front row of the audience, says the NOC.

A list of people allowed on stage should be provided to the administration.

Participants will not enter any restricted area or obstruct public or private roads, and infants, children and children under 18 will not be allowed on site. In addition to legal guardians, the organizers will be responsible in this regard.

The NOC also said that the consumption of toxic substances or prohibited substances will not be allowed on site, and such substances will not be served. If a situation arises from the violation of this condition that leads to the use of force, the organizers will be responsible for the casualties.

After the NOC was issued, a delegation of the JUI-F that included Secretary General Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, the Deputy Commissioner Mr. Shafqaat and other officials visited the site.

Shafqaat told the JUI-F leaders about the measures they were advised of, including security, and also the points of entry and exit, parking, toilets and food and water distribution points and the area were discussed. For the stage.

The group reached an agreement on the route that Azadi March will take to enter the capital. The section of the march that comes from the G.T. Road will enter the capital from Rawat and use the highway, I.J. Main Road and 9th Avenue to get to the place. The section that comes from the highway will use the Kashmir highway, and these roads will be closed when the concentration approaches.

The Red Zone has been partially sealed and entry to this area has been restricted until the march ends, officials said. This step was taken in response to the concerns expressed by diplomats, since the area also includes the Diplomatic Enclave.

At 8pm on Monday, the Azadi March led by Maulana Fazlur Rehman had reached the Ghotki district in Sindh. This section of the march consists of 32,000 participants, 1,080 vehicles and 1,000 workers of the recently banned Ansarul Islam.

Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi police have made two plans for the Azadi March, one in case the authorities ask the police to stop the participants and another if they are allowed to move to the place in Peshawar Mor.

A senior police officer said Dawn the police are prepared to close the roads if the authorities issue directives for this purpose.

Under the second plan, participants of the march coming from Punjab will be diverted to the Islamabad highway from T-Chowk, Rawat to Faizabad. From there they will head towards Peshawar Mor.

He added that the demonstrations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be diverted to the Kashmir highway, while the manifestations of Murree and Azad Kashmir will reach Faizabad and then take 9th Avenue to the site.

The official said that no one will be allowed to enter the city of Rawalpindi, and that protesters who try to alter the law and order will be arrested and the FIRs registered.

The city's police officer, Mohammad Faisal Rana, said the police plan is very clear; they will not prevent anyone from participating in the march and no one from Rawalpindi who wants to go to the place will be arrested.

He said that anyone who tries to alter the law and order or life in the city will be arrested and treated according to the law.

Posted on Dawn, October 29, 2019