Lahore lockdown: ‘PTI can talk and protest at the same time’

LAHORE:

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders on said Thursday there was “no going back” on the protest planned in Lahore on December 15 even as Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal said a breakthrough was expected over the next few days in the dialogue between the government and the PTI.

“The shut down in Faisalabad was a game changer but when Lahore is shut down on December 15, the game will be over,” Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Punjab president Ejaz Chauhdry said on Thursday.

“Talks and protest can happen side by side,” he said.

Following a meeting of the PTI Punjab leadership which was attended by senior party leaders and officer bearers from several districts, Chaudhary said the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) would go ahead with its plans to bring Lahore to a halt.

He said the PTI would not withdraw its call for the strike.

“We are confident about support from traders, district bar councils and labour unions…we are reaching out to more people,” he said.

It was suggested in Thursday’s meeting that the party begin mobilising support from Friday (today) and with the help of Insaf Students Federation, hold sit-ins and demonstrations across the city.

PTI General Secretary Dr Yasmin Rashid said the party was prepared for “any and all consequences,” though she warned against a repetition of the violence in Faisalabad.

Chaudhary said the treatment meted out to PTI workers in Islamabad, Gujranwala, Jhelum and Faisalabad showed the government’s seriousness about resolving their issues.

“The killers of Haq Nawaz have been traced. Evidence against them will be provided to police,” he said.

PTI Punjab Information Secretary Andleeb Abbas said the party would engage the government in talks but added that this was not the first time the two parties were going to sit down for negotiations.

She said unless the terms of reference for the judicial commission were finalised, the protests would continue.

PTI Lahore district organistion is expected to announce a formal announcement on Friday (today) of details for Lahore lockdown.

As many as seven points will be blocked by the PTI on December 15, including Shalamar, Shahdra, Thokar Niaz Baig, Charring Cross and Liberty.

‘Breakthrough expected’

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal told newsmen that a breakthrough was expected over the next few days in the dialogue between the government and the PTI.

He said the government was glad to resume talks.

Iqbal said no country could progress without political stability.

The government, he said, was ready to hold meaningful dialogue with the PTI. He said the Supreme Court had been asked to constitute a judicial commission to probe rigging allegations.

He urged PTI Chairman Imran Khan to send his representatives to the Election Reforms Committee meetings so that his input could be taken.

He said the government would ensure peace and security on December 15 in Lahore.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2014.