PDM leaders arrive in Gujranwala to kick-off opposition offensive
Maryam Nawaz, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Fazlur Rehman will address the gathering.
GUJRANWALA (Dunya News) – The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of major opposition parties, has launched its anti-government campaign in Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala on Friday.
Political workers have gathered at the stadium for the first public meeting of the Pakistan Democratic Movement that wants to oust Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government in the centre.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz, Chairman Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and PDM president and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman have arrived at the venue.
Leaders of all major opposition parties including the aforementioned are participating in today’s public gathering.
At least 7,000 policemen and officers have been deployed at the Jinnah Stadium for security reasons. The venue of the PDM’s public gathering has been decorated with flags and banners of all opposition parties.
On the other hand, police have also prepared a plan to stop the caravans going to attend the rally. More than 24 entry and exit points to the city have been cordoned off and more than 45 mobile police teams have continued their patrols across the district.
Opposition will liberate Pakistan: Ahsan Iqbal
Addressing the rally, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal on Friday termed the rule of Prime Minister Imran Khan as anti-people and said that they [opposition] would liberate Pakistan.
He said that they [government] is giving them certificates of treason.
The PML-N leader while reminding the people of long unannounced power outages across the country said that former prime minister and party supremo Nawaz Sharif was the only person who promised to get the country of the darkness. “The former prime minister fulfilled his promise and added 11,000 megawatt of electricity to the national grid in four years,” he added.
Taking a jibe at PM Imran Khan, Ahsan Iqbal went on to say that he is not a prime minister who is selected, a premier is he who rules the people s hearts."
He further said the people of the country should become part of the anti-government movement to end “unprecedented inflation and bad governance”.
Opposition to send PM Imran packing: Kh Asif
Speaking on the occasion, (PML-N) senior leader Khawaja Asif said that it is a matter of just weeks that people would get rid of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government.
The PML-N leader said opposition parties have formed the alliance to send Prime Minister Imran Khan packing.
Asif went on to say that former prime minister and party supremo Nawaz Sharif had addressed the jam-packed rally at the same venue eight years ago. He said he couldn’t reach the venue as the roads were blocked with the supporters of Nawaz Sharif.
He further said that the people would get rid of Imran Khan in few weeks, adding that we want to restore the dignity of the vote, there should be lights here, no one sleep hungry and the rule of law and constitution in the country.
Opposition’s combined narrative is ‘Vote ko izzat do’: Shahid Khaqan Abbasi
Former Prime Minister and senior PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said at the rally that the majority of Pakistan’s votes are sitting on the stage and our combined narrative is ‘vote ko izzat do’.
He said that the country would develop only when the constitution is allowed to prevail. Today, the whole country is in a shambolic state and can only be saved through a free and fair election, he said.
Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that today, everyone longs for Nawaz Sharif; the entire Pakistan recognizes that if anyone can develop the country, it is former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
He said the government would have to answer why essential commodities and electricity have become unbearably expensive for the masses. He said that today’s rally is a victory for democracy and the people of Pakistan.
Incompetent governments are being imposed on us: Maulana Fazlur Rehman
JUI-F Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that incompetent governments are being imposed on us. We have to think for the betterment of the country, he stated.
While addressing the people at Jamia Ashrafia, Maulana Fazl further said that anti-Islam forces are being promoted in the country.
LHC wraps up pleas against blocking roads to stop PDM s Gujranwala rally
Lahore High Court (LHC) has disposed of pleas against barricading main roads to stop Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) key rally in Gujranwala.
According to details, Punjab Advocate General Ahmed Awais appeared before the court and said that the opposition parties have been allowed to hold peaceful protest. No worker of the PDM has been arrested, he told.
Subsequently, the court has dismissed the matter on advocate general’s statement.
‘Gujranwala rally will be decisive referendum against incompetent, corrupt govt’
PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said the PDM s Gujranwala rally will be a decisive referendum against the incompetent and corrupt government.
Marriyum Aurangzeb said blockades are being erected but lions of Nawaz Sharif are arriving in large numbers. She said, “The public meeting will be successful. Workers have been present at the venue since night.”
“Cases were lodged against us and we were threatened. The government blocked routes when it could not do anything. Shibli Faraz should start writing his resignation. The content of his resignation will also be provided by us.”
Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan claims opposition spent Rs1.03 billion on Gujranwala rally
Punjab government spokesman Fayyaz-ul-Hassan Chohan has claimed that the opposition parties have spent Rs1.03 billion on a rally scheduled to be held in Gujranwala today.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader said that the opposition parties have been allowed to hold protest while following strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent the covid-19 spread.
Coalition of opposition parties is like a ‘mixed pickle’. We can find those involved in nepotism, money laundering, fake telegraphic transfers, fake bank accounts and destroyers of country’s economy in these parties, he told.
Punjab govt makes agreement with PML-N public
The Punjab government has rejected PML-N statements regarding blockage of routes leading to PDM’s Gujranwala rally and made the agreement with the opposition public.
The agreement was signed by PML-N leaders Pervaiz Malik and Khawaja Imran Nazir. From management, the agreement was signed by Lahore Deputy Commissioner Mudassir Riaz and DIG Operations.
According to the document of concurrence, PML-N approved vice-president Maryam Nawaz’s rout from Jati Umrah to Batti Chowk via Adda Plot Interchange and it was decided that other routes will remain closed due to security reasons.
Punjab Law Minister Raja Basharat said in his statement that PML-N’s claim of blocking roads in Lahore is false.
