After MQM response, PPP plans its show for November 13
Even the PML-N wants to hold a public meeting.
KARACHI:
Buoyed by the public response to the Muttahida Qaumi Movemnt’s rally on Sunday, the Pakistan Peoples Party has decided to organise its own public meeting at Nishtar Park on November 13.
Announcing this at a press conference here on Monday, Home Minister Manzoor Wassan said that though the government had banned rallies and processions, it could relax the rules if any party sought permission from his department. For example, the MQM won a two-day reprieve to go ahead with its meeting on Sunday.
Wassan disclosed that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz intends to organise a public meeting. He said that the government could permit it, if the party follows the rules and applies for a no-objection certificate.
The mention of the PML-N opened the floor for questions on the attack on the party’s offices in Sindh. Wassan responded that they had already ordered a judicial inquiry. “Not only were the PML-N offices ransacked, but some miscreants also attacked the offices of the PPP and burnt posters and portraits of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto,” he said, adding that he had suspended SHOs in Khairpur and Kandhkot following the PML-N attacks. He denied that PPP workers were involved.
The government provides Nawaz Sharif full security whenever he visits Sindh, said Wassan, but went on to hastily temper this by saying that he regretted that “when Nawaz Sharif was chief minister of Punjab in 1988, he never received Benazir Bhutto, the then prime minister.”
Code of Conduct
Wassan announced that all the parties and groups, including the MQM, Sunni Tehreek, ANP, Jamaat-e-Islami, PPP and Jafria Alliance, have agreed to a government code of conduct for the collection of hides on Eid-ul Azha.
This was agreed on by 22 parties at a meeting at his office. Now the district coordination officers (DCOs) and home department will issue permits. “Only those who have permission would be allowed to collect hides,” he said, adding that cases would be registered against violators under the anti-terrorism act.
“There will be a ban on camps and no one will be allowed to make announcements from mosques, madrassas or use loud speakers,” he said. However, people can voluntarily donate hides at mosques and seminaries in their neighbourhoods. The police and Rangers are being given a free hand to ensure that this code of conduct is implemented. They will monitor people transporting hides. “The police will arrest people and confiscate the hides from them if they are found carrying it without a permit,” he said, adding that the government would also set up complaint centres at the DCO office.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2011.
Buoyed by the public response to the Muttahida Qaumi Movemnt’s rally on Sunday, the Pakistan Peoples Party has decided to organise its own public meeting at Nishtar Park on November 13.
Announcing this at a press conference here on Monday, Home Minister Manzoor Wassan said that though the government had banned rallies and processions, it could relax the rules if any party sought permission from his department. For example, the MQM won a two-day reprieve to go ahead with its meeting on Sunday.
Wassan disclosed that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz intends to organise a public meeting. He said that the government could permit it, if the party follows the rules and applies for a no-objection certificate.
The mention of the PML-N opened the floor for questions on the attack on the party’s offices in Sindh. Wassan responded that they had already ordered a judicial inquiry. “Not only were the PML-N offices ransacked, but some miscreants also attacked the offices of the PPP and burnt posters and portraits of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto,” he said, adding that he had suspended SHOs in Khairpur and Kandhkot following the PML-N attacks. He denied that PPP workers were involved.
The government provides Nawaz Sharif full security whenever he visits Sindh, said Wassan, but went on to hastily temper this by saying that he regretted that “when Nawaz Sharif was chief minister of Punjab in 1988, he never received Benazir Bhutto, the then prime minister.”
Code of Conduct
Wassan announced that all the parties and groups, including the MQM, Sunni Tehreek, ANP, Jamaat-e-Islami, PPP and Jafria Alliance, have agreed to a government code of conduct for the collection of hides on Eid-ul Azha.
This was agreed on by 22 parties at a meeting at his office. Now the district coordination officers (DCOs) and home department will issue permits. “Only those who have permission would be allowed to collect hides,” he said, adding that cases would be registered against violators under the anti-terrorism act.
“There will be a ban on camps and no one will be allowed to make announcements from mosques, madrassas or use loud speakers,” he said. However, people can voluntarily donate hides at mosques and seminaries in their neighbourhoods. The police and Rangers are being given a free hand to ensure that this code of conduct is implemented. They will monitor people transporting hides. “The police will arrest people and confiscate the hides from them if they are found carrying it without a permit,” he said, adding that the government would also set up complaint centres at the DCO office.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2011.