PDM members’ arrests planned ahead of rally

PDM activists reiterate plans to travel to Lahore


Imran Asghar December 08, 2020
PDM workers at a rally. PHOTO: EXPRESS/File

RAWALPINDI:

Following directives from the Punjab Home Ministry, police in the garrison city of Rawalpindi have prepared a list of names and addresses of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leaders and activists who will be detained before the opposition’s upcoming rally in Lahore on December 13.

Officials, who spoke to The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, said that the district administration has forwarded a list of names to the Rawalpindi Police to start raiding houses of opposition party workers from today (Tuesday). Sources added that the Punjab home minister has approved the temporary detention of scores of PDM activists under the broadly-applied Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law.

Meanwhile, PDM activists have reiterated their plans to travel to Lahore for the grand rally.

Moreover, political leaders and officials of political parties that are part of the opposition’s coalition have shaped plans to evade arrests, sources shared.

The activists shared that district leaders have formulated two strategies. Prime amongst them is that if the political leaders are arrested, party workers will travel to Lahore in small groups before the demonstration.

Should this also fail, he said that early on the morning of December 13, all workers will assemble at Rawat Chowk and then leave for Lahore in the form of a convoy. Sources also claimed that prominent leaders of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, Pakistan People’s Party and Jamiat-e-Ulema Fazl have gone into hiding.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 8th, 2020.

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