KARACHI: The Sindh government has officially allowed the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf to hold a public rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah in Karachi, issuing a written no-objection certificate through the deputy commissioner East.

Senior Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the NOC was granted with specific conditions, making the organisers fully responsible for maintaining law and order during the event. He said incitement, sectarian speeches and anti-state rhetoric would not be allowed, while traffic management would also be the responsibility of the organisers. The rally must conclude within the scheduled time, he added, noting that the district administration reserves the right to cancel permission on security grounds.

Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi visited Bagh-e-Jinnah to inspect arrangements for the PTI rally scheduled for Sunday. Along the route from the airport to the venue and later to the Karachi Press Club, he was welcomed by party supporters chanting slogans in support of the PTI founder.

Speaking to the media at the Karachi Press Club, Afridi said he had no personal contact regarding negotiations, stressing that peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could not be achieved through military operations alone. He said he would attend talks if invited by the prime minister to discuss eliminating terrorism in the province, calling for joint efforts by the federal and KP governments, political parties and security agencies.

Afridi said negotiations had been mandated to Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir, adding that the PTI had launched a street movement demanding the release of the party founder and his wife, with the January 11 Karachi rally being a key component.

He apologised to journalists for arriving late, citing a warm reception by party workers, and said he had come to Karachi on the direction of Imran Khan to support the movement. He criticised the treatment of PTI parliamentarians in Punjab and expressed concern over restrictions on media, calling them a sign of rising authoritarianism.

Afridi said the PTI’s objective was not to seize power but to restore the rule of law and ensure a free media, adding that the party remained confident of public support in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and across the country.