Maryam Nawaz on Black Day. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: Opposition political parties have observed black day in the country, while political parties in the country have also registered their presence by staging a protest rally from the Chohar Chowk in Rawalpindi to Islamabad.
However, very few members of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) participated in the rally at the end, which started from Chohar Chowk in Rawalpindi went to Faizabad then Murree Road to end peacefully at National Press Club.
The rally began from Chuhar Chowk and ended at the National Press Club, Islamabad via Murree Road. The rally was initiated to observe mark July 25 as black day. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had won election on this day last year, which opposition say was a stolen mandate.
It was a call from opposition parties to observe their protest against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) led government on rigging the 2018 elections.
Opposition shows strength in street numbers
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazal (JUI-F) workers have held banners, placard and chanted slogans against the ruling PTI led government in the province and center, while leaders of the PML-N including MNA Malik Ibrab, MPA Malik Iftikhar Ahmed and MNA Usman Khan, while from JUI-F senior leaders Mullana Azizur Rehman Hazarvi, led their protest from the twin cities.
When the rally entered the federal capital, the protesters were stopped by police and district administration.
Industrial Area Assistant Commissioner Mehreen Baloch told the rally participants that section 144 has been imposed by the district administration till further notice, after which no rally was allowed to enter the city.
PML-N leader Malik Abrar told AC Baloch that they were holding a peaceful rally, however, if the government tries to stop it they will stage a sit in. As the standoff extended, more contingents of police were called in.
Due to the standoff vehicles were caught in a miles-long traffic jam, though after a while, vehicles not part of the rally were allowed to proceed while much later, the rally too was allowed to move on.
Once the rally had reached National Press Club, few supporters of PPP also joined the crowd.
Later, the opposition rally went to Blue Area and China Chowk and finally dispersed peacefully.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 26th, 2019.
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