Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: The Federal government has decided to give a free hand to the process of holding rallies by the PDM, Information Minister Shibli Fraz announced here on Tuesday.
The minister said the PTI government was not unnerved by any public gatherings but that the current ban on such events should not be seen in a “democratic context”. He added that the country’s health system could be overwhelmed if the opposition continued to violate standard operating procedures for Covid-19.
“If somebody is adamant on putting people’s lives at risk, then the people will hold them accountable,” he said.
But even though there is a ban on public gatherings, Faraz said the government will not stop opposition events. “Whoever wants to go they can go, so we see their status. If they hold [events] we will obviously take action against such leaders,” he added.
He accused the opposition of helping to spread the
virus at a time when “the economy is recovering and jobs are being restored”.
Answering a question, the minister ruled out a complete lockdown, saying the government could not “paralyse the entire country” and economy to stop opposition rallies.
During the meeting, the cabinet was also given a briefing on the River Ravi City and Bundle Island projects that the government wants to commence. Faraz said the two projects will generate hundreds of thousands of jobs and attract foreign direct investment.
Meanwhile Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and Pakistan Democratic Alliance (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that now they are eyeing December 13 public rally in Lahore.
Fazlur Rehman reached the residence of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to congratulate him over a successful public rally in Multan, Monday.
Addressing the media flanked by Gilani, Fazlur Rehman claimed that Multan’s public rally remained successful and he thanked the masses for their support.
He said that now the opposition alliance, PDM is eyeing December 13 public rally in Lahore and added that future strategy would be devised in a meeting of the alliance.
The JUI-F chief claimed that the government has lost its writ. On the occasion, former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani thanked Fazlur Rehman for visiting his residence and thanked for cooperation from the PDM parties.
The PPP stalwart said that there was no light, no water, and other facilities at the jalsagah but the PDM held its public rally at Ghanta Ghar Chowk.
He alleged that people were forced not to attend the PDM public rally.
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) held a public rally in Multan. The PDM workers removed all hurdles and entered Multan’s Qilla Kohna Qasim Bagh.
