The Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) has shifted the venue of its planned Karachi rally to the public gate of Mazar‑e‑Quaid, citing delays in the issuance of a formal permit for the original location at Bagh-e-Jinnah. PTI leaders said the no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Sindh administration was granted late on Saturday evening, leaving insufficient time to complete logistical preparations at the intended site.
Karachi spokesperson Fauzia Siddiqui told local media that approval for Bagh-e-Jinnah arrived around 6:30 pm, after most rally preparations were already underway, prompting the party to relocate the gathering to Mazar-e-Quaid for Sunday at 2 pm. The event is part of PTI’s ongoing street mobilisation marking the first anniversary of the February 8, 2024 general elections, which the party has repeatedly described as rigged.
Conditions attached to the NOC for Bagh-e-Jinnah included responsibilities for security, crowd control, traffic management, and prohibitions on hate speech, provocative content and statements against state institutions. Permitting authorities also required compliance with the Loudspeaker Act, installation of metal detectors and full video recording of the event with subsequent submission to officials. Despite these terms, PTI leaders maintained that the late timing of the approval made the original venue impractical.