Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Floodlights, sound systems and thousands of chairs have been put in place at the Fatima Jinnah Park in the federal capital where the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is going to celebrate its 20th birth anniversary today (April 24).

The law enforcement agencies have also made elaborate arrangements for security at the gathering.

A huge stage has been set up on a road inside the Fatima Jinnah Park from where PTI’s central leaders and parliamentarians would address the party workers. Lush green trees at the Fatima Jinnah Park and Margalla Hills in the background will add beauty to the venue of the PTI public meeting that is being decorated with the party flags, big billboards carrying portraits of the party leaders and anti-government slogans.

Talking to Daily Times, PTI chief organiser Faisal Javed said, “We are expecting an unprecedented crowd at Sunday’s event. It’s not an ordinary gathering; it’s the 20th birth anniversary of the PTI.” He said, “We have made seating arrangements for 80,000 people, whereas 200,000 to 300,000 people are expected to attend the event.”

Javed said: “Primarily, security arrangements are the responsibility of the federal government, but our workers will also perform security duties at the main entry points. They will assist the police and the Islamabad Capital Territory administration with regard to security for the party leadership around the stage.” He said, “We don’t have any plan to march towards the Parliament House; we will celebrate the party’s 20th birth anniversary peacefully as per our commitment with the administration.” Vendors in large numbers have set up stalls outside the venue to sell party flags, insignias and caps during the event. Muslim Khan, a vendor from Mohmand Agency, said, “I work in Rawalpindi, but I usually set up stalls at every gathering of the PTI. I set up such stalls to earn my livelihood and express my love for PTI Chairman Imran Khan.”

During a visit to the venue, Daily Times learnt the event would not cause any environmental pollution because it was being held on the main road inside the Fatima Jinnah Park. The event will cause minimum damage to the trees, plants and natural grass at the venue. The Islamabad High Court (ICT) has dismissed three petitions, which challenged PTI’s decision to hold the event at the Fatima Jinnah Park. The petitioners had argued that PTI’s public meeting would destroy the natural beauty of the park.

People participating in the event can use the main gate of the Fatima Jinnah Park, which is situated on the Jinnah Avenue. The administration has opened another gate of the park that usually remains closed to facilitate people entering and leaving the venue.

In contrast to PTI official’s claim that 200,000 to 300,000 people will visit the event, intelligence officials believe that 30,000 to 40,000 people will attend PTI’s anniversary celebrations.

Public gatherings at the Fatima Jinnah Park are a new phenomenon because the political parties earlier used to hold gatherings and rallies at D-Chowk on the Constitution Avenue. The Fatima Jinnah Park is located in F-9 Sector, Islamabad and it was inaugurated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his first term as prime minister of Pakistan in 1992.

“Islamabad police led by Senior Superintendent (Operations) Sajid Kiani will take care of security arrangements for the gathering and nobody will be allowed to enter the gathering without a thorough checking,” said a police officer.

Traffic Police Officer Muhammad Azmat, who has been deployed to ensure smooth flow of traffic on the roads leading to the venue of the PTI meeting, said that all roads leading to the Fatima Jinnah Park would be closed for general traffic and used only for parking. He said, “We will try to avert traffic jams in the capital and divert routine traffic to other routes.”

The PTI public meeting is being considered significant in the wake of an anti-government movement that is building up in the wake of Panama leaks. PTI Chairman Imran Khan, Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and senior leader Jahangir Khan Tareen are prominent among those who will speak on the occasion. The ceremony will formally begin at 7pm on Sunday.