Govt out to contain number of protesters

Large number of containers impounded for blocking movement

LAHORE:

The police have geared up efforts for containing the show of strength of the opposition parties in Gujranwala on Friday.

A senior officer shared with The Express Tribune that the strategy of police would be “containment” of the number of people participating in the public gathering rather than outrightly stopping it.

For the purpose, steps would be taken to impede free mobility of people to the main venue in Gujranwala on the day of the rally, discouraging party leaders of the third and fourth tiers from mobilisation for the rally and ‘harassing’ them through brief detentions, sources said.

For the purpose, the police in the initial stage have captured a huge number of containers throughout Punjab for blocking access in areas where there were reports of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers gathering.

Lahore police have been assigned the key role as the most vocal leader at the moment, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, is staying at her residence in Jati Umra, Raiwind.

Containers were placed near her residence and on the roads leading to the city from there. The local police may leave her with no option but to opt for the choosing motorway to reach Gujranwala rather than entering the heart of the provincial capital and travelling on GT Road.

Reports of raids on leaders of PML-N at the union council level started coming in on Wednesday evening. At least two raids were conducted in Shahdara. An officer said the frequency of such actions was set to increase. Inspector General of Punjab Police Inam Ghani stated that the officers of the force were implementers of the government policy.

Also, top PML-N leaders have alleged many a times that Lahore CCPO Umer Shoib Sheikh was appointed to use force against their party.

Meanwhile, Secretary General All Pakistan Goods Transport Owners Association Nabeel Tariq complained that police had impounded hundreds of containers.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 15^th, 2020.