‘Plan C’: Lahore lockdown
Imran asks PM either to form election inquiry commission or PTI will make it difficult for PML-N to rule the country.
LAHORE:
As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) paralysed life in Punjab’s provincial capital on Monday, Imran Khan warned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to form the proposed election inquiry commission, or else his party will make it difficult for him to govern the country.
“Mian sahib, form the proposed judicial commission to probe into rigging in the 2013 elections, or else we will make governance difficult for you,” Imran said while addressing thousands of PTI supporters at Charing Cross on Monday.
PTI workers had blocked 28 key points of Lahore since morning. Business activities in the city remained nearly suspended as majority of mainstream trading areas were closed. They burnt tyres, put up barbed wire and barricades on the city’s main roads. Few shops on main arteries were open as the shopkeepers didn’t want to take risk. However, most markets located in the periphery of the main roads were open, but with little economic activity.
Babu Sabu Interchange and Thokar Niaz Beg – two entry points of the city – were also blocked for traffic early in the day. Commuters travelling to Lahore by buses were seen lugging their bags on the roads.
According to officials, 15,000 policemen were deployed at 28 points in the city while 3,600 traffic police officials were deployed across the city to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.
Expressing joy over the success of his call, the PTI chief thanked Lahoriites “for proving to Nawaz Sharif that the 2013 elections were rigged”. Imran said the entire nation has given its verdict against the rigged elections by coming out on the streets. “Lahore had witnessed massive rigging during the previous elections”, he said, “I want to thank you all for coming out on your own.”
However, the PTI chief also urged Nawaz Sharif to get back to the negotiating table. “We are a democratic party. We want to see transparent elections in our country,” he said.
During his speech Imran made several references to the ongoing talks between his party and the government. He added that if the government sat for talks with the PTI’s negotiating team, a judicial commission could be formed within the next 48 hours.
“If left with no other option, we will come out on the streets,” he said. But he insisted that the party wanted to remain peaceful. “We have always held peaceful protests. Now, this nation wants justice,” he said.
Imran also lashed out at Punjab’s former law minister and said it was Sanaullah’s ‘goons’ that had caused the clashes on December 8 between the workers of the PML-N and the PTI – an event that resulted in the death of PTI worker Haq Nawaz.
“Rana Sanaullah should be put in jail,” he added.
Taking notice of an incident earlier in the day, involving misbehaviour of some PTI supporters with television journalists, Imran asked his workers to respect the media and women. “The media should be protected. If it weren’t for the media, today we wouldn’t have been here,” he said.
“I see a new Pakistan. I see a new country. If Nawaz Sharif doesn’t return to the table, Lahoriites, be prepared. My next plan is ready,” he added.
Imran was scheduled to visit Thokar Niaz Baig, Babu Sabu and Chungi Amer Sindhu among other protest points but later cancelled the plan due to time constraints.
Govt blames PTI causing damage
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said Lahore has rejected PTI’s call for strike. He said businesses opened as usual in all important markets of the metropolis. “However, some shops were forcibly shut down by the PTI and trade was affected in areas where the protesters burnt tyres and blocked roads,” he added.
The Punjab government criticised the PTI for “damaging public property and causing inconvenience to general public” and invited Imran to take up his demand for formation of a judicial commission in parliament.
The government also announced to Rs0.5 million compensation to families of two youngsters – a 17-day-old girl and a 15-year-old boy – who allegedly died on Monday as they could not reach Children’s Hospital due to PTI’s roadblocks.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2014.
As Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) paralysed life in Punjab’s provincial capital on Monday, Imran Khan warned Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to form the proposed election inquiry commission, or else his party will make it difficult for him to govern the country.
“Mian sahib, form the proposed judicial commission to probe into rigging in the 2013 elections, or else we will make governance difficult for you,” Imran said while addressing thousands of PTI supporters at Charing Cross on Monday.
PTI workers had blocked 28 key points of Lahore since morning. Business activities in the city remained nearly suspended as majority of mainstream trading areas were closed. They burnt tyres, put up barbed wire and barricades on the city’s main roads. Few shops on main arteries were open as the shopkeepers didn’t want to take risk. However, most markets located in the periphery of the main roads were open, but with little economic activity.
Babu Sabu Interchange and Thokar Niaz Beg – two entry points of the city – were also blocked for traffic early in the day. Commuters travelling to Lahore by buses were seen lugging their bags on the roads.
According to officials, 15,000 policemen were deployed at 28 points in the city while 3,600 traffic police officials were deployed across the city to ensure a smooth flow of traffic.
Expressing joy over the success of his call, the PTI chief thanked Lahoriites “for proving to Nawaz Sharif that the 2013 elections were rigged”. Imran said the entire nation has given its verdict against the rigged elections by coming out on the streets. “Lahore had witnessed massive rigging during the previous elections”, he said, “I want to thank you all for coming out on your own.”
However, the PTI chief also urged Nawaz Sharif to get back to the negotiating table. “We are a democratic party. We want to see transparent elections in our country,” he said.
During his speech Imran made several references to the ongoing talks between his party and the government. He added that if the government sat for talks with the PTI’s negotiating team, a judicial commission could be formed within the next 48 hours.
“If left with no other option, we will come out on the streets,” he said. But he insisted that the party wanted to remain peaceful. “We have always held peaceful protests. Now, this nation wants justice,” he said.
Imran also lashed out at Punjab’s former law minister and said it was Sanaullah’s ‘goons’ that had caused the clashes on December 8 between the workers of the PML-N and the PTI – an event that resulted in the death of PTI worker Haq Nawaz.
“Rana Sanaullah should be put in jail,” he added.
Taking notice of an incident earlier in the day, involving misbehaviour of some PTI supporters with television journalists, Imran asked his workers to respect the media and women. “The media should be protected. If it weren’t for the media, today we wouldn’t have been here,” he said.
“I see a new Pakistan. I see a new country. If Nawaz Sharif doesn’t return to the table, Lahoriites, be prepared. My next plan is ready,” he added.
Imran was scheduled to visit Thokar Niaz Baig, Babu Sabu and Chungi Amer Sindhu among other protest points but later cancelled the plan due to time constraints.
Govt blames PTI causing damage
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said Lahore has rejected PTI’s call for strike. He said businesses opened as usual in all important markets of the metropolis. “However, some shops were forcibly shut down by the PTI and trade was affected in areas where the protesters burnt tyres and blocked roads,” he added.
The Punjab government criticised the PTI for “damaging public property and causing inconvenience to general public” and invited Imran to take up his demand for formation of a judicial commission in parliament.
The government also announced to Rs0.5 million compensation to families of two youngsters – a 17-day-old girl and a 15-year-old boy – who allegedly died on Monday as they could not reach Children’s Hospital due to PTI’s roadblocks.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 16th, 2014.