PDM rally to start in Pakistan's Gujranwala soon, govt trying to obstruct it
Oct 16, 2020
Gujranwala [Pakistan], October 16 : The Pakistan Democratic Movement's (PDM) first anti-government protest is going to take place in Gujranwala within hours.
The opposition comprising 11 parties including PML-N (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz), PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party), and JUI-F (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl) will be holding the Gujranwala Rally today.
The anti-government rally is organised to protest against army atrocities and demand for PM Imran Khan's resignation in the backdrop of corruption, economic slowdown, and poor governance.
Pakistan is under tremendous pressure owing to the coronavirus pandemic which has worsened the decay already existing in the system.
Balochistan, POK (Pakistan-occupied Kasmir), GB (Gilgit-Baltistan), Sindh, and now Punjab are also under pressure to form different political groups to stop this decay.
A large gathering of PML-N supporters was witnessed in Punjab province before the start of the rally. Anti-government protesters shouting slogans like "Look who has arrived, Lion is here." The PML-N supporters swarmed the streets with Nawaz Sharif's placards accompanied with music, who will virtually address the rally from London today.
The protestors had already started pouring in Gujranwala since last night, where the whole atmosphere reverberated with the slogans like, "Ek take me do Niyazi" referring to the shady performance of Imran Khan as the PM of Pakistan.
In order to foil the rally, the Punjab administration in connivance with Pak Army and centre started blocking the road leading to the rally spot. About 5,000 police personnel were deployed along the road leading to the Jinnah stadium.
People coming from other places to participate in the rally with their own vehicles were stopped four-five km away from the venue. Also, containers were put in the middle of the road to block the entry of the protesters.
Truck/container drivers who were bound to leave for Karachi with goods were forcibly stopped by the police and the trucks/containers were placed in the middle of the road to obstruct the path of the protesters. "Nothing was paid to us (truck/container drivers) and we are left in the middle of the road", said a truck driver when asked about the reimbursement.
Top opposition leaders including JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Maryam Nawaz, and Bilawal Bhutto are scheduled to address participants at the stadium.
