LAHORE: The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is set to hold a massive political gathering at the iconic Minar-e-Pakistan ground in Lahore today.
The preparations are complete and a stage and chairs have been set up on the ground at the forefront. of the monument along with the all-important sound system. The activists of the opposition parties took control of the Greater Iqbal Pak a day ahead, carrying flags and chanting slogans despite being denied permission by local authorities.
The Punjab government has not permitted PDM to hold the rally in Lahore, however, no action has been taken to stop the rally participants. No containers have been set up on the roads, and no other obstruction has been put in place.
Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar had advised opposition parties to avoid risking lives by holding large public gatherings during a pandemic and amid a terror threat alert. He questioned the emergency in holding a rally when coronavirus cases are on the rise. He said the government will deal with the PDM in accordance with the law.
محترمہ مریم نواز شریف صاحبہ کا 13 دسمبر جلسہ کے حوالے سے اہم پیغام pic.twitter.com/Z5CUrblUXb
— PML(N) (@pmln_org) December 11, 2020
The senior leadership of the PDM has been warned of a possible “terrorist activity” by the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA). The Lahore police have sent letters to PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
They said that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists are coordinating to carry out a terrorist activity on 13 December. It states that after the terrorists failed in their attempt in Peshawar, “they are planning to shift their operatives, required material and logistics towards another place (most likely Lahore)”.
The letter warns that information available suggests that hostile intelligence agencies along with TTP have planned to carry out terrorist activities in Punjab particularly in Lahore.
These hostile intelligence agencies “may also carry out assassinations of senior political personalities associated with PDM” to create instability in the country, it further warns “Besides other targets, political and religious personalities or high profile figures of minorities in Punjab Province are on their priority list,” the letter adds.
