LAHORE: As the opposition’s preparations for the first public show of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) in Gujranwala on Oct 16 are in full swing, the PML-N has warned the PTI government of creating any hurdles in it.

PML-N leaders Pervaiz Rashid, Rana Sanaullah, Marriyum Auranzeb and Attaullah Tarar held separate meetings on Saturday with the office-bearers, lawmakers and workers from Gujranwala and reviewed preparations for the rally.

“The PDM will hold the rally in Gujranwala on Oct 16 at any cost. The government is trying to stop it. But we want to tell ‘scared’ Prime Minister Imran Khan that the rally will be held and stop it if ‘you’ can,” PML-N information secretary Marriyum Auranzeb said.

She said the people were not scared of Imran Khan’s threats and were ready to go to jail for a bigger cause. She said the Gujranwala rally would herald respect for the ballot, supremacy of the parliament and rule of law and constitution.

She further said PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz would participate in all PDM rallies.

Meanwhile, PPP Punjab president Qamar Zaman Kaira said party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari would join the Gujranwala rally.

“The PDM Gujranwala rally will be a historic one and all PDM leaders including Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will address it,” Mr Kaira said, adding the PDM was trying to end interference of state institutions in politics.

“If the interference of the institutions in politics ends this PTI government will be in tatters,” he said.

He asked PM Khan to refrain from politicising the institutions and stop ‘hiding behind the establishment’.

Kaira said the PDM was united in its cause and its struggle would succeed.

Regarding PPP’s plan to resign from the parliament, Kaira said: “It will use the option of resignation from the parliament at the appropriate time. Our target is to send this ‘incompetent’ government packing.”

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has urged the opposition to be responsible and postpone rallies for three months amid fears of a second Covid-19 wave in the country.

“I believe political parties should give proof of responsibility and postpone rallies and processions for the next three months. The opposition should also postpone its movement till next year and respect life,” he said in tweet.

Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2020

Opinion

GB’s lost hope

GB’s lost hope

Given the need for democratic and accountable governance in GB, the quest for a provisional province warrants immediate attention.

Editorial

Dangerous times
Updated 14 Feb, 2025

Dangerous times

Pakistan accounted for six journalist killings in 2024, of which three were deliberately murdered, according to the CPJ.
Difficult target
14 Feb, 2025

Difficult target

A ONE-two punch delivered by an unforeseen, sharp dip in inflation and an extremely slim base of taxpayers is...
Amazing show
14 Feb, 2025

Amazing show

PAKISTAN’S ability to turn it up at the flick of a switch remains uninhibited. The latest show came in...
Trump’s folly
Updated 13 Feb, 2025

Trump’s folly

This latest pronouncement only reinforces the fears of those who see the plan as a blueprint for ethnic cleansing.
Corruption ranking
13 Feb, 2025

Corruption ranking

IT comes as little surprise. Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2024, unveiled on...
Support from remittances
13 Feb, 2025

Support from remittances

EVEN though workers’ remittances dipped, albeit negligibly, in January on a month-over-month basis, the earnings...