ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is likely to skip the protest by opposition outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on January 19 due to his commitments.
The PPP chairman is expected to visit Sukkur on January 18 and Umerkot the next day to attend meetings arranged by the party workers and would be unable to attend the protest.
PPP leaders Raja Pervez Ashraf, Nayyar Hussain Bukhari, Sherry Rehman and Farhatullah Babar, along with other senior party leaders, will represent the party at the PDM rally.
Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had on January 6 announced to hold a rally in front of the ECP to protest the alleged delay in the decision on foreign funding case against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Bilawal has committed himself to visit Sukkur on January 18 and 19 where he would distribute flats in the Labour Colony. He is scheduled to visit Umerkot in Tharparkar the next day. However, Bilawal is expected to attend the PDM rally in Sargodha on January 23 hosted by the PPP.
Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said the government would not stop the PDM protest outside the ECP if they abide by the law and constitution.
He said the opposition would practice its constitutional right as the government would not create any hurdle for its protest. He warned the law would take its course if the opposition tries to create unrest in the capital.
Last week, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed authorities not to create any hurdle in the protest movement of the multi-party opposition alliance. The prime minister allowed the PDM’s planned protest in front of the ECP headquarters in Islamabad but issued orders to take action against those violating the law.
