United opposition accomplishes anti-govt rally at Lahore's Mall Road
Tahirul Qadri warned Punjab government against decisive protest aimed at attaining justice
LAHORE (Dunya News) - Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) joined hands to stage a protest against Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government on Mall Road in Lahore on Wednesday over the 2014 Model Town massacre.
While Sheikh Rasheed stood up as the "Man of the Match" with his resignation call during address, other leaders from the opposition parties also slammed the ruling PML-N government for their negligence to provide justice and indulgence in corrupt practices. Both Asif Zardari and Imran Khan pledged their full assistance for Tahirul Qadri and voiced support for the victims of Model Town incident. Thousands of people from all opposition parties as well as senior leaders attended the massive protest.
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21:20 Tahirul Qadri once again arrived at the stage to address the protesters. He called Sheikh Rasheed the "Man of the Match" of today after he announced his resignation from the National Assembly. He said the Mall Road agitation is staged not only by PAT but also shared among united opposition parties including PTI and PPP.
Qadri said that the leaders of opposition parties will hold a meeting within two days in which they will decide the future strategy. He asked his supporters whether they will protest outside the Jati Umra residence of the Sharif family, at which they chanted “yes”.
20:44 Imran Khan takes the podium to address the Mall Road rally staged by opposition parties.
He called the Sharif family a mafia who either threatens the enemies or buys them out. He slammed Nawaz Sharif for calling out judiciary.
On Sheikh Rasheed s advice to resign from lower house, Imran Khan criticised the role of parliament for not ensuring democracy. "Which parliament allows corrupt politician to be party president," he said, stressing that democracy means to speak up for the people.
He told that he agrees with the move to present resignations in parliament and his party members had resigned from the 2014 sit-ins that were not accepted. Imran Khan applauded the critique on parliament given by Rasheed.
21:00 Responding to resignation of Sheikh Rasheed, Maryam Nawaz tweeted that those who were demanding resignation have themselves decided to resign.
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) January 17, 2018
20:33 Sheikh Rasheed, Awami Muslim League (AML) chief addresses rally participants. Rasheed said that anti-Pakistan remarks of United States (US) president Donald Trump and Indian army chief are time sensitive.
Sheikh Rasheed announced his resignation from the National Assembly seat. The lawmaker in lower house said, “I resign from my National Assembly (Rawalpindi) seat.”
He suggested that PTI Chairman Imran Khan should also resign from the seat in order to create pressure on the ruling party.
Rasheed said that it is his dream to see the Imran Khan as the prime minister of the country, and that he will be disappointed if that doesn’t happen. He further advised the opposition parties to become united for the dissolution of assemblies.
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19:30 Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief Mustafa Kamal addressed the rally participants on the Mall.
19:17 PTI Chairman Imran Khan arrived at the massive protest in Mall Road over the Model Town massacre. He is alongside Jahangir Tareen and Shah Mehmood Qureshi. The PTI leaders met Qadri who is already at the stage on Chairing Cross. Imran Khan was seated at the front row of the stage and will soon address the protesters.
19:10 A policeman named Mazhar Iqbal - deployed at the protest for security purposes - reportedly died after a heart attack.
19:00 Zardari left the stage and went inside his vehicle. He will soon exit the Mall Road rally. It is likely that Imran Khan will arrive at the protest after the departure of Zardari.
Imran Khan chaired a meeting of senior PTI leaders where they exchanged opinion for future strategy.
18:38 Qadri is invited at the stage and he acknowledges the participation of PPP, PML-Q, PTI, JI, PSP and others in the ‘united’ opposition rally. He voiced support for the poor who suffer from injustice, asking them to rise up and fight against injustice.
He said that the people have gathered for justice and to respect the humanity. Qadri said that they want to destroy the Sharif dynasty which broke constitution. He assured that he does not want any administrative position in future.
18:28 Zardari addresses the grand Mall Road agitation staged by PAT. He slammed Nawaz Sharif for his statement regarding Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, saying that the PML-N president compared himself with the person who broke the country in two parts.
He thanked Qadri for inviting PPP in the noble cause for the justice of Model Town incident’s victims. Zardari told that only the Sharif family poses threat to the country.
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18:03 PML-Q president Elahi addresses the anti-government rallies, and criticises the ruling PML-N in Punjab over their negligence. "People ask for justice from the Supreme Court Chief Justice when it is delayed," he stated.
18:02 Asif Zardari has arrived at the grand Mall Road agitation where other PPP leaders welcomed him. He shook hands with both PAT and PPP leaders before being seated at the front row of the stage.
17:44 Imran Khan along with Jahangir Khan Tareen and Shah Mehmood Qureshi have arrived at the Lahore airport. They are headed towards a guest house. Imran Khan is expected to reach the rally after the conclusion of address of PPP co-chairman Asif Zardari who is also yet to reach.
Photo source: @PTIoffical on Twitter
17:20 Zardari is likely to reach the Chairing Cross soon where stage has been set for his address. PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira among others are already at the stage with senior leaders of other opposition parties.
17:08 PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari leaves Bilawal House in Lahore’s Bahria Town to attend the anti-government rally at Mall Road. He is joined by PPP Senators Rehman Malik and Dr. Abdul Qayoom Soomro. Zardari will address to the party leaders before arriving at the stage of grand Mall Road agitation.
VIDEO: Old man singing funny song Mujhey Kiu Nikala at Mall Road rally
17:04 PSP chief Mustafa Kamal arrives at the rally venue.
16:56 PML-Q president Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has also arrived at the location, and will address protests. He met Qadri at the stage alongside Chaudhry Zaheeruddin and Kamil Ali Agha.
16:54 Two women reportedly fell unconscious during the rally.
16:40 Tahirul Qadri arrives at the stage and is greeted by leaders of PTI and PPP who are already present at the Mall Road sit-in.
MQM-P not to participate
While PSP decided to join the anti-government protest in Lahore, MQM-Pakistan and Farooq Sattar will not attend the Qadri’s rally despite invitation. Sources reported that MQM-P is not happy with the protest despite preparations for the power show at Chairing Cross where containers have been placed at all sides.
Police warn DJ Wali to only play national songs
Police officers have warned DJ Wali to only play patriotic songs during the protest after which the united opposition has decided to only play anthems of specific parties.
LHC allows opposition parties to protest on Mall Road
Lahore High Court (LHC) has allowed opposition parties to hold rally on Lahore’s Mall Road until 12am after which, no media coverage will be given to them.
A full-bench headed by Justice Ameen-ud-Din announced the verdict reserved on a petition filed against the sit-in and said that the opposition parties can utilize the venue until midnight.
AML, JI, PSP to also participate in sit-in
Awami Muslim League (AML), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) will also take part in the protest that will be staged against the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). The protest is being viewed as a platform that will be bringing together various political parties including the PTI and the PPP, with leadership of both the parties having exchanged hostile comments against each other in the recent past.
The protest comes in the wake of the Punjab government caught in the middle of scathing criticism following the brutal murder and rape of a seven-year-old girl in Kasur. Today’s protest will also demand accountability from the government over the Kasur incident.
Deployment of Rangers in Lahore
On the other hand, Punjab government has summoned contingents of Pakistan Rangers ahead of the opposition’s protest set to be held outside the Punjab Assembly on Mall Road.
Meanwhile, emergency has also been declared at various hospitals in the metropolis for timely medical assistance.
Imran, Zardari will share same container: Qadri
Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) leader Tahirul Qadri announced that both Imran Khan and Asif Ali Zardari will share the same container at their anti-government protest on the Lahore Mall Road.
Speaking to press conference today, he warned Punjab government against taking any action regarding their decisive protest aimed at attaining justice for victims of the Model Town incident.
“There will be one mosque, one container. Both Imran Khan and Asif Zardari will share the container,” he stated.
Earlier reports suggested that the there is a little chance that Imran Khan and Asif Zardari will share the same stage during PAT’s protest despite the claims made by Qadri.
Qadri meets Zardari
Later on in the day, Qadri arrived at Lahore’s Bilawal House to meet Asif Zardari where the two conducted joined press conference. The PAT leader thanked Zardari for providing the support of PPP in the Mall Road protest.
“Zardari assured full support from his party (PPP),” Qadri told media. He added the a movement will be initiated after Mall Road sit-in.
Qadri explained that the future strategy for the anti-government protests will be announced on Jan 17 with the united opposition including Imran Khan and Asif Zardari at the stage.
PTI denies the claim
PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry has denied PAT chief Dr Tahirul Qadri’s claim of Imran Khan and Asif Ali Zardari sharing the same stage.
He addressed a press conference in Lahore and said that PTI does not want to give any idea to the people that would remotely add to the notion that Imran and Zardari have joined hands.
Chaudhry cleared that PTI chief and Zardari would arrive on stage in different sessions during the protest.
Clarification of PTI has come in after PAT chief claimed earlier in the day today of Imran and Zardari sharing the stage purportedly simultaneously seeking ousting of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over alleged injustice in Model Town tragedy.
See preparations underway for Mall road agitation in Pictures
‘Protest under the prescribed limits’
He assured that the demonstration will not violate the laws, saying, "Protest will be carried out within the limits of Constitution and law as our movement is aimed at restorating real democracy in the country."
“They (ministers and officials of Punjab govt involved in Model Town incident) would have to resign."
Qadri told that his party has devised the future strategy to derail the government of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
‘Mall Road protest illegal’
Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah has said that political parties that are to stage protest on Mall Road starting from Wednesday have been informed of terror threats.
In an exclusive talk with Dunya News, Sanaullah said that security agencies’ warnings have been conveyed to the parties and that the government does not permit of any protest on Mall Road whatsoever.
The law minister termed the protest illegal.
He further said that two police officials lost their lives in a suicide attack on Mall Road last year. Rana Sanaullah said that legal cases would be lodged against the parties for demonstrating an illegal protest.
Preparations
Qadri stated that the protest will formally begin at 12PM on January 17 while the sit-in would be staged at two places simultaneously.
Punjab government has announced that the educational institutions located at and in the vicinity of Mall road will remain closed.
Meanwhile, preparations are underway for opposition’s anti-government protest in Lahore despite the provincial government’s warning against it.
The city’s main thoroughfare Mall Road has been blocked for traffic while placing containers, creating immense problems for the commuters.At least 30 chairs are being set at Chairing cross while an 80-ft long stage will be made for the speakers.
The protest venue will be extended to GPO chowk. As many as 200 sofas will be positioned in front of the main stage for the central leadership.
Traders worry as Mall road gears for another protest
The business community - including traders with offices at the main route - has expressed reservations over tje insufficient government action against those who hold protests on Mall road saying that while everyone should have a right to freedom of expression, political and otherwise, every citizen should also respect others’ right to earn a living and to a safe and secure environment.
The warned that they will be forced to stage a protest of their own demanding the implementation of law.
