Prime Minister Imran Khan has granted permission to let opposition parties hold rallies and public gatherings across the country following Covid-19 SOPs, media reported yesterday.
As per details, the decision was taken during a meeting of the cabinet which was held to mull over political issues. Some cabinet ministers suggested to the prime minister that he allow opposition parties to hold rallies.
After weeks-long deliberation and confusions over what the future might hold for the opposition parties’ movement, the federal cabinet finally approved opposition’s plans to hold rallies against the government across Pakistan.
The PM said that holding them back in their futile bid “will unnecessarily make them see like heroes”.
The ruling members suggested that opposition be allowed to bring out their rallies at specific spots while the district authorities in the relevant areas ensure they follow coronavirus Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Representatives of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of major opposition parties, announced public rallies in different cities to gather momentum and public support as part of the movement against the government.
As part of the schedule, the PDM will hold public gatherings and rallies in Gujranwala on October 16, Karachi on October 18, and in Quetta on October 25. The opposition parties’ will hold gatherings in Peshawar and Multan on November 22 and 30, respectively.
Meanwhile, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said, politically, the government did not fear the opposition’s movement against it, but as the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Covid-19 chairman he was concerned about the spread of coronavirus.
He said the data showed that Covid-19 infections, which had declined a couple of months ago, were rising again.
He appealed to the opposition parties to avoid holding huge gatherings and follow SOPs like social distancing and wearing of masks during their protests, adding that “if the opposition wants to launch a movement against the government, it does not need to fill up grounds”.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) vice president Maryam Nawaz has said the government can’t win war against the masses as people are standing by her father and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and soon they will get rid of the ‘incompetent and incapable’ government following the protest drive.
She told a private TV channel that Imran Khan’s government “would be sent packing before January” following Pakistan Democratic Movement’s protest campaign.
Maryam also demanded resignation of retired Lt Gen Asim Saleem Bajwa from the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) chairmanship.
“Resignation from the post of the special assistant to the prime minister on information and broadcasting is not enough. Bajwa should also resign from the chairmanship of the CPEC.
CPEC is a game changer for Pakistan and a person who is facing allegations should separate himself from it,” she told reporters in Model Town where she had come to meet party leaders and workers to review the Gujranwala rally on October 16.
HEARING: Security officials escort Shahbaz Sharif (in a face mask), Pakistan’s opposition leader and brother of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, as he leaves the National Accountability Bureau court after a money-laundering case hearing, in Lahore yesterday. (AFP)
