Protest call: PTI holds mobilisation walk for shutdown
18 points chosen for picketing on Monday.
LAHORE:
Gearing up for Monday’s shutdown bid, Punjab chapter leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and scores of workers made their way to The Mall on Saturday as part of their awareness and mobilisation campaign.
The workers had started gathering at the Charing Cross early in the morning. Flyers seeking support for Imran Khan’s call for a shutdown were distributed among passers-by, commuters and traders during their shop-to-shop campaign.
The rally was led by PTI Punjab chapter president Ejaz Chaudhry, general secretary Dr Yasmin Rashid and information secretary Andleeb Abbas.
Chaudhry said that the aim of the campaign was to mobilise people and to persuade them to join in the PTI’s call for a shut down. The workers blocked The Mall for a while, chanting Go Nawaz Go before returning to the pavement.
Majority of the traders on The Mall responded in the affirmative to their call for shutdown.
Exchange of opposing slogans was witnessed outside a shop, where someone started chanting Ro Imran Ro.
“We are trying to convince them to close their shops and support our call. We are not forcing anyone. We believe in reaching out to the people, the decision will be theirs,” said Andleeb Abbas.
Chanting ‘Pur aman ehtijaaj ka saath do’ (support the call for a peaceful protest), PTI supporters moved from Charing Cross to Sadiq Plaza near Masjid-i-Shuhada.
Chaudhry said a majority of traders had assured them of their support. “This is a huge success, considering Lahore is the political capital of the country,” he said.
The rally participants visited Panorama Centre before dispersing at around 1:30pm.
PTI Lahore district president Abdul Aleem Khan announced that they would block roads at 18 points. The points are: Shahdra Chowk, Bhati Chowk, Babu Sabu, Charing Cross, PMG Chowk, Mughalpura Chowk, Bhatta Chowk, Walton Chowk, Liberty Chowk, Thokar Niaz Beg, Raiwind Road, Chauburji, LHC Chowk, Mozang Chungi and Chungi Amar Sidhu.
Addressing party workers at a district office on Saturday, Khan said that the district body had formulated a schedule. “Workers will be assigned duties and sub-committees will ensure that designated points are blocked,” he said.
He said that the shut down would start at 7am on Monday morning.
“Imran Khan will visit each of the points during his visit to the city. After Imran Khan leaves, workers must not abandon their posts,” he said. He said that clear instructions had been given to workers to keep the shutdown peaceful.
“Ambulances will be allowed to move. There will be no use of force,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2014.
Gearing up for Monday’s shutdown bid, Punjab chapter leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) and scores of workers made their way to The Mall on Saturday as part of their awareness and mobilisation campaign.
The workers had started gathering at the Charing Cross early in the morning. Flyers seeking support for Imran Khan’s call for a shutdown were distributed among passers-by, commuters and traders during their shop-to-shop campaign.
The rally was led by PTI Punjab chapter president Ejaz Chaudhry, general secretary Dr Yasmin Rashid and information secretary Andleeb Abbas.
Chaudhry said that the aim of the campaign was to mobilise people and to persuade them to join in the PTI’s call for a shut down. The workers blocked The Mall for a while, chanting Go Nawaz Go before returning to the pavement.
Majority of the traders on The Mall responded in the affirmative to their call for shutdown.
Exchange of opposing slogans was witnessed outside a shop, where someone started chanting Ro Imran Ro.
“We are trying to convince them to close their shops and support our call. We are not forcing anyone. We believe in reaching out to the people, the decision will be theirs,” said Andleeb Abbas.
Chanting ‘Pur aman ehtijaaj ka saath do’ (support the call for a peaceful protest), PTI supporters moved from Charing Cross to Sadiq Plaza near Masjid-i-Shuhada.
Chaudhry said a majority of traders had assured them of their support. “This is a huge success, considering Lahore is the political capital of the country,” he said.
The rally participants visited Panorama Centre before dispersing at around 1:30pm.
PTI Lahore district president Abdul Aleem Khan announced that they would block roads at 18 points. The points are: Shahdra Chowk, Bhati Chowk, Babu Sabu, Charing Cross, PMG Chowk, Mughalpura Chowk, Bhatta Chowk, Walton Chowk, Liberty Chowk, Thokar Niaz Beg, Raiwind Road, Chauburji, LHC Chowk, Mozang Chungi and Chungi Amar Sidhu.
Addressing party workers at a district office on Saturday, Khan said that the district body had formulated a schedule. “Workers will be assigned duties and sub-committees will ensure that designated points are blocked,” he said.
He said that the shut down would start at 7am on Monday morning.
“Imran Khan will visit each of the points during his visit to the city. After Imran Khan leaves, workers must not abandon their posts,” he said. He said that clear instructions had been given to workers to keep the shutdown peaceful.
“Ambulances will be allowed to move. There will be no use of force,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 14th, 2014.