Metro train: PTI leads protest in Parachute Colony
‘The PML-N govt is victimising the residents for not voting for its candidates’
PTI leader Aleem Khan addressing the participants of the protest. PHOTO: EXPRESS
LAHORE:
Dozens of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) workers and Parachute Colony residents staged a protest demonstration on Sunday against acquisition of land for the Orange Line Metro train project.
The protesters chanted slogans and demanded that the government change the route of the metro train.
The protest was led by PTI leader Aleem Khan, who warned the government not to demolish houses in the colony in violation of stay orders issued by courts.
“The government is continuing with the demolition of houses despite the stay orders obtained by owners. We will seek contempt of court proceedings against the officials concerned. We will also challenge them on the streets. I will be the first one to stand in front of a bulldozer to protect these houses,” he said.
He alleged that the government was trying to spare the house of a provincial minister. “The government is victimising the residents of the locality for not voting for its candidates,” he said.
Khan also criticised the government for its spending priorities. “The government is willing to spend billions of rupees on the metro train project. However, it has failed to ensure provision of basic needs for the people of Lahore. Our rulers have not yet been able to provide clean drinking water to the people of Lahore. They are only concerned about trains and buses,” he said. Khan said the government needed to spend more on hospitals, schools and on improving the sewerage system in the city.
He said that the government was using public funds for private purposes. “The government has spent Rs400 million from public funds to build boundary walls for private residences,” he said.
MPA Shoaib Siddiqi said that the government had made the Orange Line project a matter of life and death.
During his visit to Lahore last week, PTI chief Imran Khan was briefed about the metro train project. The PTI has forged an alliance with three other political parties in the province over the project. They have been protesting against the project in the provincial assembly and outside it.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2016.
Dozens of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) workers and Parachute Colony residents staged a protest demonstration on Sunday against acquisition of land for the Orange Line Metro train project.
The protesters chanted slogans and demanded that the government change the route of the metro train.
The protest was led by PTI leader Aleem Khan, who warned the government not to demolish houses in the colony in violation of stay orders issued by courts.
“The government is continuing with the demolition of houses despite the stay orders obtained by owners. We will seek contempt of court proceedings against the officials concerned. We will also challenge them on the streets. I will be the first one to stand in front of a bulldozer to protect these houses,” he said.
He alleged that the government was trying to spare the house of a provincial minister. “The government is victimising the residents of the locality for not voting for its candidates,” he said.
Khan also criticised the government for its spending priorities. “The government is willing to spend billions of rupees on the metro train project. However, it has failed to ensure provision of basic needs for the people of Lahore. Our rulers have not yet been able to provide clean drinking water to the people of Lahore. They are only concerned about trains and buses,” he said. Khan said the government needed to spend more on hospitals, schools and on improving the sewerage system in the city.
He said that the government was using public funds for private purposes. “The government has spent Rs400 million from public funds to build boundary walls for private residences,” he said.
MPA Shoaib Siddiqi said that the government had made the Orange Line project a matter of life and death.
During his visit to Lahore last week, PTI chief Imran Khan was briefed about the metro train project. The PTI has forged an alliance with three other political parties in the province over the project. They have been protesting against the project in the provincial assembly and outside it.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 15th, 2016.