LAHORE: The Secretary-General of the United Democratic Front, Prof Ghafoor Ahmad, today [Dec 13] demanded that the Government should lift … all curbs on political activity, including the national emergency. Addressing a Press conference … he alleged that the Government was using Section 144 “as a prop to keep itself in the saddle of authority”.

He also criticised the banning of a procession which was to be taken out by the Jamaat-i-Islami … today to register “popular protest” over rising prices. … Prof Ghafoor said the UDF Executive had recently decided that the question of resigning the National Assembly seats would be taken up by the General Cou­ncil of the Front at a meeting… . … The UDF … would launch a nationwide “mass contact” movement. … He claimed that imposition of Section 144 was “wholly unconstitutional,” and the Opposition was not bound to accept it. … He claimed that the National Assembly had not been taken into confidence on [PM’s] Russian tour or on recent agreements with India regarding resumption of trade. … The ruling party members took least interest in the proceedings… .

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2024