JI demo paralyses parts of capital as PTI puts off rally
• Hafiz Naeem calls for release of arrested workers
• Says sit-in to continue until govt reaches a decision
• Venue shifted from D-Chowk to Liaquat Bagh
• PTI postpones protest in Islamabad on court’s advice
• Claims over 400 workers held across Punjab
ISLAMABAD / LAHORE: The government on Friday managed to convince the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) to agree to shift their protest against inflation and exorbitant electricity bills — which paralysed the capital and its twin city — from D-Chowk in the Red Zone to Rawalpindi’s Liaquat Bagh.
The decision to change location came after the government held talks with the JI leadership, and a sit-in is expected to continue there until Monday.
Around 40 JI workers and supporters were arrested from various areas, while trying to make their way into the capital to attend the demonstration.
“There was no need to disturb the general public,” Information Minister Atta Tarar told a press conference earlier on Friday, regretting how one group or the other had made it a routine to swarm the twin cities, causing widespread distress for commuters.
However, in a speech from Liaquat Bagh late on Friday night, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman called on the government to release all arrested workers and form an ‘authorised committee’ to hold talks with the party.
He said their own committee would first gauge whether the government team was just employing delaying tactics or if it was serious. The sit-in, he said, would continue until the government reached a decision.
Meanwhile, the PTI, which had planned nationwide protests to call for the release of its incarcerated founder Imran Khan, backed out of its call for a demonstration in Islamabad on Friday after the Islamabad High Court allowed them to hold it on Monday, July 29.
However, the party went ahead with demonstrations in various parts of the country. Since the Punjab government has put Section 144 in place, the party claimed that around 400 of its activists were arrested across the province.
Extraordinary security measures, put in place in apprehension of the JI and PTI protests, caused hardships to the commuters as key arteries in both cities were blocked by containers.
‘Plan A and B’
The JI had initially announced it would hold an indefinite sit-in at D-Chowk overlooking Par-liament House — where PTI camped out for several weeks in 2014. However, owing to road blocks, party leader Hafiz Naeem only managed to make it to the Sector I-8 intersection.
Addressing workers there, he claimed the government had no interest in providing relief to the people.
“We are not fond of staging sit-ins and blocking roads, but it was our duty to raise voice against rising inflation, exorbitant electricity bills, increased taxes and all the cruel measures that are pushing people below the poverty line.” Hafiz Naeem said.
The JI leader, who set off from the outskirts of Rawalpindi city, was held up at Zero Point due to road blocks.
Addressing supporters at I-8, Hafiz Naeem said their ‘Plan A’ was to register their protest at D-Chowk, but announced that the venue of the sit-in had been moved to Liaquat Bagh, terming it ‘Plan B’.
“This proves that we are not backing down from our demand for relief for the masses,” he said,.
The JI chief also warned the government to exercise restraint, asking, “How many people will the government arrest? The numbers of those [courting arrest] will increase with each passing day.”
PTI protests in Punjab
Meanwhile, PTI supporters seeking to uphold the sanctity of the Constitution and secure the release of party founder Imran Khan and other incarcerated leaders and workers, held demonstrations across the province.
In order to avert the mass protest, the Punjab government had imposed Section 144 banning political assemblies, protests, rallies and other activities, claiming that there were apprehensions of a threat to law and order.
However, PTI’s deputy chief whip in the Punjab Assembly, Sheikh Imtiaz said the government had always used the ploy of “external threats” whenever they announced protests and rallies. “The timing of imposing Section 144 is not surprising — it comes alongside the announcement of PTI’s protest rallies,” he said.
Punjab Police also swung into action late on Thursday night, arresting several party workers and supporters during raids on their residences.
According to reports, police arrested some 400 workers and supporters from Lahore, but most of them were released later after they gave commitments that they would not participate in the rallies.
Still, some 15 rallies were organised by party MPAs and leaders, with the deputy chief whip joining a gathering on Defence Road.
PTI Punjab Information Secretary Shaukat Basra condemned the Punjab government for orchestrating raids at party workers’ residences. He claimed there were reports that police also tortured several party workers and demanded that those who were picked up from their houses, should be released.
Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2024