PDM gets conditional nod to stage rally
The Punjab government has allowed the opposition parties to stage a rally at Jinnah Stadium in Gujranwala on Friday (today) – their first under the banner of their new alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) formed to send the PTI-led government packing – but with strict conditions in place.
In a 28-point undertaking submitted to the authorities on Thursday, PML-N leaders have agreed to the conditions which include that participants of the opposition’s grand show would not be allowed to enter the venue without a mask and sit at a distance of three to six feet from each other.
Slogans that are “anti-state/objectionable/offensive” and speeches against constitutional offices, armed forces and judiciary have been prohibited.
The organisers will install walk-through gates and provide sanitisers at the entrance and exit gates of the venue.
The PDM will arrange lighting at the venue and ensure that there is no display of weaponry or fireworks.
There will be no wall-chalking in the city in connection with the rally and party banners will be put up only after the permission of the relevant authority.
In case of violation of any of the terms and conditions, the organisers will face legal proceedings and the permission will be cancelled immediately.
Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to address the Gujranwala rally via video link from London, according to the PML-N
Party leader Maryam Nawaz has also announced her travel plan for participating in the rally. She will leave her residence in Jati Umra after Friday prayers and reach the venue by 6pm.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has reached Lalamusa, from where he will leave for Gujrawala in the form of a convoy.
Despite the PDM being given the nod to stage its grand show, the government is apparently engaged in efforts contain the inflow of opposition activists workers to Gujranwala.
Since Wednesday night, vehicles have been parked on roads leading to Gujranwala and on the thoroughfares in Lahore that are likely to be used as roadblocks.
Police are reportedly arresting opposition activists across Punjab. The three main opposition parties, the PML-N, the PPP and the JUI-F, have lodged their protest against arrests of their activists.
A list of around 800 PML-N activists from Lahore has been circulating on social media. The list identifies the activists as miscreants, indicating that they might be arrested.
Furthermore, transporters have strictly instructed not to rent out their vehicles to political parties.
Event management services in Gujranwala have also been instructed not to renting out chairs for the rally.
To further complicate matters, National Assembly and Senate sessions have also called on Friday.
The lawmakers participating in the rally would be unable to attend the sessions.
To finalise the preparations for the grand show, PDM leaders held several meetings in Lahore, Gujranwala, Lalamusa and Islamabad.
Several PML-N leaders, including Rana Sanaullah held public meetings in Gujranwala to mobilise party activists. Several leaders turned up at the Jinnah Stadium in Gujranwala on Thursday night to inspect the preparations.
As Gujranwala is one of the strongholds of PML-N, the party is confident that it would attract a large crowd enough to full the stadium to its capacity.
However, Federal information Minister Shibli Faraz has claimed that the opposition parties were unlikely to draw a massive crowd.
Sanaullah has challenged the minister that he would resign as an MNA if the stadium was not filled to its capacity.
Speaking to the media, PDM Secretary General Shahid Khaqan Abbassi accused the government of resorting to all types of tactics to sabotage the rally.
“Our activists are ready to face wrath of this tyrannical government,” he said.
He also expressed his surprise over the move to convene the Senate and National Assembly sessions on the same day when the opposition alliance was staging its rally.
“What was the urgency behind calling the Senate and National Assembly sessions on Friday?”
Speaking to the media in Lahore, JUI-F leader Abdul Ghafoor Haideri announced that party chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman would reach Gujranwala in the form of a convoy. The convoy would be received reception at Ichra, Jan Mandir, Bati Chowk, Imamia Colony and Muridke.