PTI conveys security concerns to chief secretary

Mehmoodur Rasheed calls parliamentary party meeting today

LAHORE: In view of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Raiwind rally on September 30, Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Mehmoodur Rasheed met the provincial chief secretary on Wednesday to discuss his party’s reservations with the authorities.

Accompanied by the PTI lawmakers of the Punjab Assembly, Rasheed met Zahid Saeed to communicate his concerns about alleged government interference aimed at sabotaging the protest rally.

The opposition leader has already written a letter to the CS, seeking assurance that law and order would be maintained by the district and provincial governments on the day of the rally.

Rasheed communicated concerns regarding the threats being hurled by a “baton-wielding force” allegedly formed by the ruling PML-N for “defending Raiwind”.

He also talked about the party’s reservations about the possibility of using containers by the government to block roads and reports of forced closure of petrol stations and harassment of transporters by police ahead of the rally.

Rasheed also expressed concerns over the detention of PTI workers by police, saying such steps would only escalate tensions between the PTI and PML-N.

The chief secretary assured the opposition leader that no worker would be forcefully detained by police or prevented from attending the rally. He also addressed concerns relating to transporters and containers.

The PTI leaders said the CS has assured them no containers would be used and if needed, provision for the safe passage of commuters, especially ambulances would be made.

A statement issued by the party after the meeting said the chief secretary said the government would not use police to harass or detain PTI workers.

The opposition leader also called a meeting of the parliamentary party on Thursday (today) to discuss preparations ahead of Friday’s rally. All MPAs of the party will attend the meeting.

Earlier, Rasheed had instructed MPAs to mobilise workers from their respective constituencies for the protest march.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 29^th, 2016.