At least 35 women were due to participate in the rally. The representatives from transgender community were also invited to the event. However, the JUI-F and other religious parties Friday threatened to hold protest demonstration in Hayatabad on Saturday morning against the rally.
According to JUI-F leader Maulana Raifullah Qasmi, the women's bicycle rally is spreading obscenity. He announced that they would contact the relevant departments to have the event cancelled and if that is not done, a demonstration will be held against the rally at 9am on Saturday.
The threat of the protest forced the organizers to cancel the rally. The organizers claimed that they had NOC from the district administration. However, local police claimed that the organizers had not obtained NOC from the police for security clearance.
A notification released by KP director-general denied granting permission to any NGO to hold cycling events in Hayatabad. It further read that the Hayatabad Sports Complex has not been booked for the January 19 event.