PDM denied permission to hold Nov 22 rally in Peshawar

The local administration of Peshawar has refused the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the anti-government alliance, application to hold rally in the provincial capital citing exponential rise in Covid-19 cases.

The PDM, the 11-party opposition alliance against the PTI-led government, had announced to hold public gathering in various cities including in Peshawar on November 22 (Sunday).

The deputy commissioner in a statement said Covid-19 positivity rate has exceeded 13 per cent in Peshawar district which is “alarmingly high”.

Any large public gathering is likely to increase the spread of deadly virus, it added.

The official statement further said that to protect the human lives in view of aforementioned factors, the permission cannot be granted.

On Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had announced that the government had decided that there would be no more political rallies across the country, keeping in view the rapid increase in the novel croronavirus cases.

The premier also announced that his party had suspended all political activates involving large gatherings including cancelling the rally scheduled to be held in K-P on Saturday (tomorrow).

Defying the government’s decision, the PDM has announced that it would proceed with its rallies despite the ban imposed by the government in the wake of the rapid rise in Covid-19 cases in the country.

Opposition leaders have accused the PTI-led government of using coronavirus as a “tactic” to cripple the anti-government movement.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leaders in TV talk shows have assured that their party would ensure compliance with the coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs) during political gatherings.

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.

'Be sensible', Shibli tells opposition

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz urged the opposition parties to "be sensible", saying: "The Covid-19 pandemic is a global reality, it is not an innovation of someone's mind. Court decision has also been issued, the opposition parties should be sensible and should not be an enemy of the masses.”

He went on to add that protection of public's health is “our foremost priority”.

“If God forbid, precious lives are lost, the opposition leaders and the organisers of public meetings will be held responsible."