LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has said legal action will be taken against those involved in organizing rallies that pose a risk of spreading the COVID-19.
While addressing a press conference today, the chief minister ruled out the possibility of the government granting permission to the PDM to hold a public gathering, and warned that government would lodge cases against the organizers.
His statements come as the 11-party opposition alliance — the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — is gearing up to stage yet another rally, as part of its anti-government campaign, in Lahore on 13 December.
Buzdar said, “We all know about the orders of the courts and the National Command and Operation Centre regarding rallies and gatherings which presents a risk of spreading the virus is unlawful and legal action will be initiated against it.”
The government was not specifically targeting anyone and, for its part, had “reduced and curtailed its demonstrations and gatherings,” the chief minister maintained.
He said all standard operating procedures (SOPs) are strictly followed at government meetings. While the Opposition does not hold the country’s interests at heart, he added.
Despite local administrations denying permission for public meetings owing to the second wave of COVID-19 infections, the PDM has so far organized two political events — one in Peshawar and another in Multan.
Deputy Commissioner Lahore has also refused to grant permission to hold the rally at Minar-e-Pakistan due to the ongoing health crisis in the country.
On the other hand, PTI senator Faisal Javed Khan said that PM Imran Khan has made it clear that the PDM will not be stopped but cases will be filed against those who violate coronavirus SOPs and endanger public lives.
وزیراعظم عمران خان نے واضح کر دیا ہے کہ پی ڈی ایم کو روکا نہیں جائے گا-لیکن اس غیر قانونی کام کرنے والوں کے خلاف مقدمات بنائے جائیں گے – کورونا کی دوسری لہر بہت زیادہ خطرناک ہے – انکے جلسوں سے تیزی سے بڑھتے ہوئے کیسز لوگوں کی جانوں اور ابھرتی ہوئی اکانومی کو خطرے میں ڈال رہے ہیں
— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) December 5, 2020
The COVID-19 has claimed 22 more lives, while 540 people infected by the virus in Punjab on Saturday.
According to the spokesperson of the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, the number of COVID-19 cases in the province reached 122,293, while so far the total number of deaths in the province reached 3,137 altogether.
Pakistan has recorded 3,119 new cases and 44 deaths due to the COVID-19 in the last 24 hours as the positivity rate rises in the country.
According to the latest figures from the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC), the total number of cases has reached 413,191 while there are still 52,359 active cases. The positivity rate of coronavirus cases increased to 7.58 percent as compared to yesterday’s record of 7.3 percent.
