• No roadblocks created for protesters
• Participants say power show will force ECP to expedite funding case hearing

ISLAMABAD: The government’s decision to allow free movement to protesters in the Red Zone on Tuesday caught the opposition parties unaware.

The peaceful movement of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) workers on Constitution Avenue and setting up of a stage between the Prime Minister’s Secretariat and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) reflected political maturity.

Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed had already abolished all police checkposts and the Red Zone was accessible to everyone. The government had allowed opposition parties to hold the protest gathering outside the ECP, therefore did not set up roadblocks on the roads.

However, the free movement created confusion as various rallies continued to move right up to the stage, including those with sound systems. The disorder, including occasional honking, even irked most of the speakers.

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai could not even control his sentiments and rebuked the participants. Soon after his address in Pashto, Mr Achakzai told the participants in Urdu, “such indiscipline would never bring any revolution nor will it force anyone to go - what are you doing? What is this?” There was not a single tense movement even when few voices were made from the stage ridiculing security institutions.

Later, addressing a press conference, the interior minister indirectly acknowledged that the participants of the PDM protest were peaceful. He also said the government had no worries about the long march after witnessing protest demonstrations on Tuesday.

“Despite warnings by Islamabad police, the government decided to give them a free hand and it proved to be a right decision.”

Meanwhile, the government also acknowledged that seminary students did not participate in the gathering. Special Representative of the Prime Minister on Religious Harmony Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi said a majority of madressahs had nothing to do with the opposition movement.

“Majority of madressahs in Islamabad and Rawalpindi did not participate in today’s gathering,” he said in a statement.

Workers hopeful ECP to expedite hearing

Workers and supporters of the opposition political parties were hopeful that the power show would push the ECP to expedite the hearing and announce a decision on the PTI foreign funding case.

A large number of law enforcement agencies personnel deployed outside the ECP remained relaxed.

Majority of the participants belonged to the PML-N followed by the JUI-F with thin representation from other parties.

Bilal Hussain, a PML-N supporter who came from Hazro, told Dawn that it was strange that cases against Nawaz Sharif were heard on a day-to-day basis but PTI’s case could not be decided even after six years.

“I am quite satisfied with the number of participants and believe that it will give a clear message to the ECP that people want it to act fairly,” he added.

Another PML-N supporter, Shahzad Mushtaq Abbasi from Murree, said he reached the capital to push the ECP to decide the case at the earliest.

A supporter of JUI-F, Shahryar Khan, who is a seminary student in G-9 and belongs to Karak, said presence of such a large number of people vindicated the stance of the PDM.

“ECP should announce its decision on the case at the earliest. Moreover, people have been suffering because of price hike. We also faced embarrassment after a PIA plane was seized in Malaysia recently,” he said.

Chaudhry Noman Mahota, a PPP supporter from Sargodha, hoped that the ECP would conclude the case soon.

“It is unfortunate that decisions on cases are deliberately delayed to blackmail people,” he added.

Qaumi Watan Party (Sherpao group) Central Vice Chairman Zarrar Ahmed Butt said a decision on the case, whether in favour or against the PTI, should be announced.

“It is unfortunate that in Pakistan, decisions are not announced to keep pressure on political parties. The recent controversy regarding Aftab Sherpao has been created to pressure the party,” he added.

Awami National Party supporter Haji Javed, who belongs to Nowshera, said heads of 80pc political parties were deliberately kept out of the National Assembly.

“The show is quite impressive and it will motivate workers of political parties to remain active,” he said.

Rallies pass peacefully

The rallies taken out from different parts of Rawalpindi passed the city peacefully and entered the federal capital without any hurdles.

All roads remained open and no hurdle was created by the Rawalpindi administration and local police except in one place. Trucks were placed on Murree Road to block the main artery from Marrir Chowk to Liaquat Bagh. Traffic jam was witnessed on the main roads but the metro bus service remained operational.

The 1.5km-long portion of the main artery of the garrison city was closed by the administration for safety of participants of the rallies.

“We just closed that section of Murree Road so the rallies could depart from the garrison city with safety as there was a threat of terrorism attack,” Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Anwarul Haq told Dawn.

He said there was no hurdle in the way of the rallies. The government had ordered to put security in and around the main artery and on the way of the rallies.

On the other hand, the area from Committee Chowk to Shamsabad witnessed hustle and bustle. In other areas of the city and cantonment, life remained normal.

Roadsides and lampposts along Murree Road were decorated with banners and posters of PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz. PML-N leaders Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Rana Sanaullah and others led the rallies. The JUI-F rally also passed through Murree Road.

PML-N Metropolitan President Sardar Naseem Khan told Dawn that Rawalpindi was the stronghold of the PML-N and it proved that workers and supporters were united under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, Shahbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz.

“We lost 2018 elections due to rigging otherwise the party has a strong grip in Rawalpindi district as well as in the division,” he said.

PPP workers gathered at Pindora Chungi and left for Islamabad via 9th Avenue. More than 300 workers and supporters gathered in the garrison city led by PPP City President Babar Jadoon.

It joined the main rally at Centaurus Mall, which was led by PPP Punjab President Qamar Zaman Kaira, Sardar Saleem and Chaudhry Manzoor.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2021