-Eleven parties alliance failed to put up impressive power show at Lahore
Around 9 to 10 thousand people participated in PDM’s rally
-PMD’s sixth & final rally marred by ruckus
-Masses reject PDM’s narrative, says Qureshi
From Abid Usman
LAHORE: Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of major opposition parties on Sunday has failed to attract public support in Lahore’s public gathering being held at Minar-e-Pakistan.
According to police sources, around 8,500 people participated in the Lahore rally, while according to the special branch around 10,000 people attended the PDM’s public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan. The independent sources told reporters that 9,0000 to 10,000 participants are currently present in the Lahore jalsa.
Moreover, the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) public gathering in Lahore was marred by ruckus when participants of the rally reached near the stage by breaking all hurdles.
SOPs violated
The PDM’s public gathering in Lahore was marred by ruckus as participants broke barbed wires when the main leadership of opposition parties reached Minar-e-Pakistan to address the rally.
The participants of the rally entered the female enclosure and misbehaved with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Shaista Pervez Malik. Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leaders have also violated standard operating procedures (SOPs) in the rally by not wearing masks.
Earlier today, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly Sobia Shahid led the rally of the party to Lahore just before testing positive for COVID-19. According to details, the PML-N MPA Sobia Shahid endangered the lives of others accompanying her after she led a rally to the PDM’s Lahore public gathering, a day after undergoing the COVID-19 test.
Ambulances stuck
Different city roads including the route from Minar-e-Pakistan to Lower Mall witnessed traffic jams caused by the public gathering of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) here in Lahore. Two ambulances were stuck in a severe traffic jam at Lahore’s Jain Mandir and Lower Mall areas due to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) caravan. The participants of the caravan reportedly denied giving way to the ambulances. The bumper to bumper traffic at a snail’s pace was witnessed on the Lahore roads and citizens faced a lot of inconveniences. It is pertinent to mention here that keeping in view the rising number of COVID-19 cases and the security concerns, Lahore’s deputy commissioner on Friday rejected an application of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) seeking permission to hold a public rally at Minar-e-Pakistan ground on 13th of December.
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Hussain Qureshi Sunday said that Opposition’s public meetings amid COVID-19 circumstances were not only playing havoc with people’s lives but also damaging the country’s economy. The PDM could not want progress of the country under honest leadership Prime Minister Imran Khan and after 70 years, the country got honest leadership in shape of Imran Khan, he expressed these remarks while talking to people of constituencies NA -156 and NA- 157.
Qureshi remarked that the journey of progress would remain continue with the same pace. The opposition could not deceive masses on pretext of hollow slogans and democracy, he said, adding the people were now political mature and they understood tactics of the opposition. The opposition was not faithful to the masses as it was conducting political gatherings amid peak of the pandemic, he said. The ongoing second wave of COVID 19 was very much severe, Qureshi stated. The government was not afraid of opposition public meetings, he added.
The foreign minister said however, Prime Minister Imran Khan had urged the opposition to postpone political gatherings in order to save people from the pandemic. The opposition was holding public meetings to save looted money only, he said, adding it wanted to mislead masses. He said that masses understood the opposition’s intention. The masses had rejected the political parties and their leaders, who plundered money illegally in elections 2018, the foreign minister added. He said that people would also reject the opposition in elections 2023.
Earlier, the foreign minister also laid foundation stone of a masjid, near Metro Bus station. Chief whip National Assembly and Special Assistant to PM, Malik Aamir Dogar also spoke on the occasion and stated that it was matter of honour for them. He stated that construction of masjid would be completed within stipulated time period. Shah Mahmood Qureshi also joined Qul Khawani ceremony of noted Islamic scholar late Saeed Ahmed Farooqi.
