Emerging competition: Shahbaz called early morning meeting after PTI rally
PML-N decides to closely monitor activities of political opponents.
LAHORE:
While Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan must have woken up a happy man on the morning of November 1, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is said to have been seriously perturbed by the emerging opponent’s unexpectedly successful rally.
After the rally and Imran’s huge show of strength in Punjab’s heartland Lahore, the provincial government has decided to closely monitor the activities of its political opponents and the entities that are allegedly supporting their rallies.
Sources in the Punjab Chief Minister House told The Express Tribune that Shahbaz Sharif was visibly disturbed over PTI’s success in drawing hundreds of thousands of people to the heart of the Punjab province and the stronghold of the provincial government.
Sharif convened a high-level meeting at the CM House the very next morning after the PTI’s rally. He was informed that the federal government, the establishment and a number of NGOs had all played their part in building up support for Imran’s rally.
The unofficial meeting, which was attended by members of the provincial government, took stock of PTI’s activities before the rally. The CM was briefed that PTI’s successful rally was financed and supported by certain elements, including the establishment and local and foreign NGOs. After the meeting, the Punjab government closely monitored the Jeevay Pakistan and Jeevay Muqami Haqoomat rallies organised by a local NGO in Gujranwala in support of local bodies, sources said.
“Activities of certain officials of the Punjab government are also under observation since an officer was instrumental in organising the Gujranwala rally on Thursday,” sources said.
When approached for comments, PML-N spokesperson Senator Mushahidullah Khan said they knew many organisations and political parties were campaigning against the PML-N with the federal government’s consent. He said many organisations were receiving huge financial support for the uplift of deprived segments but the money was being spent on “other activities”. “We are not worried since we know most people attended the Minar-e-Pakistan rally because Imran is a national hero first and then a politician,” he said. “Election realities are different from the politics of rallies.”
However, Mushahidullah endorsed Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah’s statement that Imran Khan is holding sit-ins and rallies on the establishment’s directions. “It is a fact,” he said.” We have told all stakeholders including the federal government, establishment and NGOs to use a genuine platform for their political activities,” he said. “The federal government raised objections on the PML-N rally, while supporting the PTI and MQM rallies. The PML-N will sweep the upcoming general election like in 1997.”
(Read: The after-party: PML-N, PTI - the suggestive rhetoric begins)
Published in The Express Tribune, November 5th, 2011.
While Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf chief Imran Khan must have woken up a happy man on the morning of November 1, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif is said to have been seriously perturbed by the emerging opponent’s unexpectedly successful rally.
After the rally and Imran’s huge show of strength in Punjab’s heartland Lahore, the provincial government has decided to closely monitor the activities of its political opponents and the entities that are allegedly supporting their rallies.
Sources in the Punjab Chief Minister House told The Express Tribune that Shahbaz Sharif was visibly disturbed over PTI’s success in drawing hundreds of thousands of people to the heart of the Punjab province and the stronghold of the provincial government.
Sharif convened a high-level meeting at the CM House the very next morning after the PTI’s rally. He was informed that the federal government, the establishment and a number of NGOs had all played their part in building up support for Imran’s rally.
The unofficial meeting, which was attended by members of the provincial government, took stock of PTI’s activities before the rally. The CM was briefed that PTI’s successful rally was financed and supported by certain elements, including the establishment and local and foreign NGOs. After the meeting, the Punjab government closely monitored the Jeevay Pakistan and Jeevay Muqami Haqoomat rallies organised by a local NGO in Gujranwala in support of local bodies, sources said.
“Activities of certain officials of the Punjab government are also under observation since an officer was instrumental in organising the Gujranwala rally on Thursday,” sources said.
When approached for comments, PML-N spokesperson Senator Mushahidullah Khan said they knew many organisations and political parties were campaigning against the PML-N with the federal government’s consent. He said many organisations were receiving huge financial support for the uplift of deprived segments but the money was being spent on “other activities”. “We are not worried since we know most people attended the Minar-e-Pakistan rally because Imran is a national hero first and then a politician,” he said. “Election realities are different from the politics of rallies.”
However, Mushahidullah endorsed Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah’s statement that Imran Khan is holding sit-ins and rallies on the establishment’s directions. “It is a fact,” he said.” We have told all stakeholders including the federal government, establishment and NGOs to use a genuine platform for their political activities,” he said. “The federal government raised objections on the PML-N rally, while supporting the PTI and MQM rallies. The PML-N will sweep the upcoming general election like in 1997.”
(Read: The after-party: PML-N, PTI - the suggestive rhetoric begins)
Published in The Express Tribune, November 5th, 2011.