MULTAN: Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has vowed to hold its rally in Multan today at all costs despite being denied permission by the government.
A showdown is expected between the government and opposition as they head towards the Qasim Bagh Stadium in Multan where authorities have taken control, deployed containers and sealed the gates.
The PDM is adamant on holding rallies with PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz said the party will hold rallies wherever authorities put up containers. The Multan district administration and police evicted all activists of opposition parties from the Qasim Bagh Stadium who had taken control a day earlier and broken the lock.
Former prime minister Yousaf Raza Gilani’s son Ali Qasim Gilani and other activists were arrested by Multan Police for defying the law and cases were registered against hundreds of party activists.
PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has vowed to go ahead with their plans of a public meeting at any cost and warned the government from stopping.
Addressing press conference after a crucial PDM meeting in Multan on Sunday, the JUI-F chief said the government was resorting to state terrorism by mass arrests, police raids and snatching the right to freedom of movement from the opposition parties.
He warned the government and demanded to stop the use of force against the PDM workers. He called on his party workers and supporters to arrive in Multan to respond to the state machinery.
“I call upon Jamiat volunteers (Ansarul Islam) to reach Multan quickly to respond to the state action. The volunteers wherever they are, listening to my voice, should reach Multan at the earliest,” he declared.
“If they do not let us hold our rally, then a rally will be held in every single district of Pakistan. If our workers and participants cannot reach the rally, we will fill up the jails,” he warned. “They have started a war and now all our options are open; we are ready to fight in any case. We will reach Islamabad soon and put the government in its place,” Fazlur Rehman warned.
PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will address the public via video link since he tested positive for coronavirus. His sister, Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, will address the crowd live in front of the venue.
