Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf to change the venue of its Long March sit-in from Faizabad to some other place in the city in order to avoid any inconvenience to the visiting English cricket team who are due to play a Test match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from 1st December.
Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi Shoaib Ali had made the request for the change of venue to the PTI during a meeting with the party’s secretary General Asad Umar.
However, the sources said that the PTI leader had informed the DC that he would convey the proposal for a new venue to his party leadership and would respond accordingly.
According to the sources, the administration had offered the PTI to hold the protest either at the historic Liaquat Bagh or the 6th Road Flyover as the two places are away from the cricketing venue.
The Test match is scheduled to start on 1st December 2022, the two teams will be required to be transported to the stadium for practice sessions before the formal start of the match.
PTI Chairman Imran Khan has given the call to its workers to reach Rawalpindi on 26th November in connection with the Haqeeqi Azadi March which he had begun from Lahore on 28th October. The district administration also asked the PTI leader that the venue of the proposed public gathering or sit-in should not be close to government buildings or sensitive installations in the prevailing security situation.
England’s cricket team is expected to arrive in Islamabad on 27th November a day after the PTI’s planned public gathering or sit-in.
On Tuesday, the PTI chief had reportedly assured the British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner, and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Ramiz Raja that the forthcoming long march would not disturb the Test series.
The assurance came from the former prime minister during his meeting with Mr. Turner and Mr. Raja in a joint meeting with him at his Zaman Park residence during which Mr. Khan was informed about the importance of the England team’s tour to Pakistan.
The British high commissioner and the PCB chairman had also expressed their concerns that the security of the tourists might be compromised in case of political unrest in the country. After a long gap of 17 years, England toured Pakistan prior to this year’s T20 World Cup to play a seven-match T20 series which the tourists won 4-3.
The English Test team is scheduled to tour Pakistan for the second leg comprising three Tests to be played in Rawalpindi, (Dec 1-5), Multan (Dec 9-13), and Karachi (Dec 17-21).
