Ahead of the opposition’s Multan jalsa on November 30, Prime Minister Imran Khan urged the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to cancel its scheduled public rallies considering the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the country. He also made it clear to the opposition that the government will not give them permission to go ahead with the Multan rally.
“The coronavirus is spreading in a dangerous manner, therefore the opposition should postpone PDM’s public meetings,” the Prime Minister said while speaking to his spokespersons in Islamabad.
He cautioned the PDM that the government will strictly enforce all standard operating procedures (SOPs) and will not allow any political gathering that goes against health guidelines specified by the NCOC and other authorities battling COVID-19.
He added that no matter how many protests the opposition stages, opposition leaders will not get an National Reconciliation Ordinance-like concession.
Earlier, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) leadership had condemned the government’s refusal to give them permission for the rally in Multan. On Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner Amir Khattak cited Punjab government’s directives banning public gatherings of more than 300 guests until Jan 31 next year to deny permission to the PDM.
The police and district administration have started placing containers around Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh – the venue for the rally – and more are being brought in to block roads leading to the city.
In response PDM leaders have said the “public meeting would be held at any cost”. PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah said that if the government did not re-open Qila Kohna Qasim Bagh, the entire city of Multan will become the venue of the rally.
