Govt warns opposition of legal action for organising rallies

Rules and regulation for combating Covid-19 pandemic would be implemented in letter and spirit, says Asad Umar

Following opposition alliance’s announcement to proceed with its rallies despite the ban imposed by the government in the wake of the rapid rise in Covid-19 cases, Minister for Planning and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has warned that the government would take legal action against those responsible for organising public meetings and gatherings.

Pakistan reported another 2,208 cases and 37 fatalities on Tuesday, according to the country's official portal on coronavirus. The new cases were recorded against a total of 38,544 tests conducted during the day.

The tally for confirmed cases has now reached 363,380 with 7,230 fatalities.

Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — an 11-party alliance PDM whose agenda is to overthrow the “unrepresentative” government of Prime Minister Imran Khan — has held several anti-government public rallies in major cities in recent weeks.

On Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced a ban on public political rallies, fearing hospitals will be overwhelmed as they were in June if people do not act responsibly.

“Legal action would be taken if anyone found organising public meetings or gatherings,” Umar said while speaking to a private television channel on Wednesday.

He maintained that rules and regulation set by the government for combating Covid-19 pandemic would be implemented in letter and spirit.

"The decision taken by the government for protecting people from the second wave of the virus would be implemented without discrimination," he maintained.

The suggestions regarding smart lockdown, the federal minister said, was given in October but the Sindh government had opposed the proposals then.

"The orders given by the courts containing the second wave of the virus in the country, have been dispatched to chief secretaries for applying in their respective jurisdictions," he informed.

PM Imran Khan, had also expressed fear about the harmful effects of the second wave of lethal virus, the minister stated.

Commenting on Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif, he said that a convicted person was inciting the party workers and masses against the state institutions.

Nawaz Sharif, he said, was enjoying his stay in London, adding that the former premier should follow the court orders and return to the homeland at the earliest.

"There are clear orders to bring the convict back to Pakistan," he commented.

On Tuesday, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the president of the PDM, said the alliance had rejected the government’s decision to suspend rallies and public gatherings on the “pretext” of Covid-19.

“This [restriction on rallies] has been imposed after the G-B elections. Until a day before yesterday, the ruling party was itself holding rallies,” he added.

“The entire country is open. This ban has been imposed because they [government] fear the PDM. We will step up our movement and not rest until the government is sent packing. The rallies will go ahead as scheduled.”

The rallies are scheduled to take place in Peshawar on November 22, in Multan on November 30 and in Lahore on December 13. The alliance had already staged rallies in Gujranwala, Karachi and Quetta.

(With input from APP)