Opposition parties are going to launch an anti-government movement with a rally in Gujranwala, Punjab Province, Pakistan today, but opposition leaders and activists are facing obstacles in the form of containers.
The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has been allowed by the government subject to precautionary measures amid concerns over the spread of the corona virus, but orders have been issued to take action against those who break the law.
Apart from PML-N, the party will also include PPP and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F). Workers and rallies of various political parties are marching towards Iqbal Stadium in Gujranwala.
Meanwhile, government leaders are taking a strong stand against the meeting.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Political Affairs Shahbaz Gill described the meeting as part of "Indian interests" and asked, "Why are India and the dacoit movement on the same page?"
Roadblocks and containers
The PDM meeting will begin this evening, but before that containers have been planted outside the homes of key political leaders, while there are also obstacles on the roads connecting other cities with Gujranwala.
Prior to the meeting, the Lahore district administration sealed off the areas by placing containers outside the PML-N's Model Town Secretariat and Shahbaz Sharif's residence. In Gujranwala, containers have also been set up outside the house of League leader and former defense minister Khurram Dastgir.
Convoys of PML-N are also leaving from other cities of Punjab for the meeting. According to PML-N leader Khawaja Imran Nazir, the MPAs will leave Lahore with the rally of party vice president Maryam Nawaz.
According to BBC Urdu correspondent Omar Draz Nangiana, 31 places in Gujranwala have been sealed with containers. The Ring Road in Lahore has also been blocked, making it difficult to reach the motorway.
Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz has declared herself his 'soldier' in the absence of her father. He had said that Nawaz Sharif would address the meeting from London.
On reports of containers and obstructions on the roads, She wrote on Twitter: 'So scared? That too from a Nahti girl?
PML-N Punjab spokesperson Azma Bukhari has said that the Punjab government is preventing people from reaching the venue as much as possible. Roads have been blocked across Punjab with containers.
She claimed that "all the banners and flags have already been taken down by the Punjab government."
The government will not be affected.
Prior to the meeting, there was a strong reaction from the PTI provincial ministers.
Education Minister Dr Murad Ross said that the stability of institutions is not being tolerated by those working on foreign agendas. The government will not be affected by the gathering of people unfamiliar with democratic traditions.
"The crackdown on corruption is part of the PTI's manifesto. The politically unemployed are struggling to make ends meet.
It may be recalled that the PML-N had announced that if the rally was stopped, a sit-in should be held there.
Which parties are included in PDM, what is its purpose?
Pakistan's major opposition parties have formed an anti-government coalition called the PDM.
The PML-N and the Pakistan People's Party are at the forefront, while the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) is seen as a key player in the protest movement.
The action plan, drawn up after the anti-government All Parties Conference (APC) of opposition political parties, called for a long march in January and called on the establishment to stop interfering in politics.
The PDM had announced that the anti-government movement would begin on October 16 with a rally in Gujranwala. A demonstration of people's power will be held in Karachi on October 18 and a rally will be held in Quetta on October 25.
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