Lal Haveli forlorn as Eid festivities near

Sheikh Rashid, party leaders stay away fearing arrest

RAWALPINDI:

The Lal Haveli, the residence of Awami Muslim League (AML) leader Sheikh Rashid and long a centre of political activities in Rawalpindi remains devoid of activities this Eid, with major party leaders and lawmakers in hiding amid a crackdown on those allied with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf over the May 9 incident.

Rashid has owned the Haveli since 1985, which was also the first time he was elected to the National Assembly. Since then, the 100-year-old mansion has also served as his party’s headquarters, and hosted an array of leaders and meetings.

This includes festivities, such as Eidul Azha, with Rashid and his party members getting sacrificial animals that would be tied all around the house.

This year, however, PTI as well as AML lawmakers, local body candidates and activists were said to be ‘underground’ fearing arrest in connection with the May 9 incident. On May 9, following the arrest of PTI chief Imran Khan, activists and supporters attacked public places and military installations.

Rashid himself has been named in several unnamed cases and has claimed that police have made multiple raids at his residence, including in the middle of the night.

Those workers and leaders of the PTI and AML who have since renounced the party and distanced themselves from the May 9 incident have no restrictions on their movement.

On the other hand, election offices and political camps of ex-provincial ministers, assembly members, local body candidates and activists who were still part of the PTI remain closed. Rashid, who served as interior minister during Imran’s tenure, has stayed with the embattled leader despite ‘facing pressure to leave Khan’s side’.

The same situation persists at Lal Haveli which wears a deserted look. Workers say they are hesitant to go there over fears that they would be arrested.

Police personnel and household staff were the only people at the mansion. Even Rashid has not visited his Rawalpindi home for the past several weeks.

This means that no arrangements have been made for the upcoming Eid, including procurement of camels and bulls that Rashid would usually sacrifice.

Political insiders say the situation is the same at the residence of other PTI leaders, with police hovering near their homes and the personnel staying away. Even if these leaders visit their homes, it is in the dark of the night in order to avoid detection.

Thousands of PTI workers remain incarcerated across the country in connection with the May 9 incident, with at least dozens expected to face charges in military courts.

Wasiq Qayyum Abbasi, the former deputy speaker of the Punjab Assembly, Colonel Ajmal, Raja Rashid Hafeez, Ajaz Khan, Haji Amjad, Asif Mahmood, Mian Imran Hayat and Raja Nasir Mahfouz are some of the leaders said to be still in hiding.

This has also disrupted grassroot level activities as well as impacted the personal lives of these individuals. Most have resorted to working remotely or through WhatsApp, scared to visit their place of work.

This also means that these leaders won’t be able to the cattle market. For Lal Haveli, it means an Eid without the usual colours.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2023.