LAHORE - City government yesterday advised the Minhaj-ul-Quran to shift their venue of public gathering on June 17 from Chairing Cross, Mall Road to Nasir Nasir or to another closed site due to security threat.

The DCO Office has issued a notification, copy of which is available to The Nation, addressing Vice President of Tehreek Minhaj-ul-Quran Brig (r) Iqbal Ahmed. The letter reads: “It is to retreat that the threat alerts to the public gathering/public places and threats to District Lahore were shared with the representatives of Tehreek Minhaj-ul-Quran.”

The letter also reminded the political party about the Lahore High Court’s ruling regarding ban on rallies and gathering on Mall Road.

The letter further reads: “The High Court’s rulings regarding ban on rallies and gatherings on Mall road were also shared with the (Minhajul Quran) and it was advised to change the venue of Jalsa (public meeting) to Nasir Bagh or another closed venue.

“In the wake of threat alerts and security cookers, public gathering at Mall Road is not advised and not recommended.”

The DCO has cautioned that if Tehreek Minhaj-ul-Quran still decides to hold the Jalsa at the said venue, it will be responsible for any untoward incident; however, for ensuring foolproof security arrangements, the organisers shall ensure the code of conduct.

According to the code of conduct issued by the City District Government Lahore (CDGL), organisers shall be responsible for any damage to public property, height of stage shall not be more than 20 feet, containers shall be placed around the stage and the rest of area shall be covered with razor wire or concertina coil and it shall be diced in coordination with District Police.

According to the notification, nobody shall be allowed reach the stage except for leaders of the party whose names shall be provided to the police at least 24 hours prior to commandment of public gathering.

It has been delivered to the Minhaj that organisers shall depute or nominate workers and representatives to maintain discipline and a peaceful atmosphere amongst the participants.

In addition to that, peaceful dispersion of the workers and participants would be the organisers’ responsibility at the end of the procession.

The letter also cited to Punjab Home Department Secretary, Lahore division Commissioner, CCPO Lahore, Chief Traffic Officer, Superintendent of Police Civil Lines, Town Municipal Officer DGB Town Lahore to coordinate with organisers and other agencies for proper arrangements and other concerned departments.

The City government has also barred Minhaj-ul-Quran to do wall chalking in any part of the city in connection to their procession on June 17. It has also banned people with baton reaching the venue and no effigy or flag of any political, religious party or any person belonging to any country shall be burnt. “No speeches against constitutional officers or armed forces or judiciary shall be uttered,” the letter reads.

Earlier, Pakistan Awami Tehreek Chairman Dr Tahirul Qadri announced to lead the sit-in along with party workers on June 17 at Mall Road commemorating two years of Model Town incident in 2014 in which 11 PAT workers were killed in a clash with Punjab Police.