‘Provocative slogans will not be allowed’
The government on Monday remained tight-lipped about granting permission to the opposition to hold its public gathering scheduled for Friday in Gujranwala, which the 11-party alliance has already announced under the banner of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM).
Provincial Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Raja Basharat didn’t give any clear statement in Punjab Assembly regarding the public gathering of PDM.
“No one can be allowed to take law into his hands. The opposition will be informed regarding its public gathering before October 16,” said the law minister.
The session of Punjab Assembly started with delay of more than two and half hour from its scheduled time with Deputy Speaker Sardar Dost Muhammad Mazari in the chair.
Answers related to the Communications and Works Department were given by Parliamentary Secretary Sardar Shahabuddin during the question hour. PML-N MPA Samiullah Khan said that the government is still silent over the permission to hold the public gathering in Gujranwala and Law Minister Raja Basharat should give a policy statement.
Samiullah Khan said and alleged that the PTI government is making lists to arrest opposition workers ahead of the Gujranwala public gathering.
Law Minister Raja Bashrat said that the opposition will be allowed to hold the public gathering only within the limits of the law and no one will be allowed to raise provocative slogans against the state institutions.
PPP MPA Makhdoom Usman also spoke in the general discussion on price control, in which he criticised the government over increase in the prices of basic commodities. The session was later adjourned till Tuesday afternoon.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 13th, 2020.