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Opposition Parties All Set To Protest on Mall Road Today

Lahore (January 17, 2017): Pakistan Awami Tehreek and allied opposition parties including PPP and PTI are all set to hold anti-govt protest in Lahore even as they have been rejected the permission by the provincial Govt on Tuesday. 

The PAT-led opposition parties are set to stage a protest demonstration before the upcoming general elections, particularly demanding that Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanaullah step down from their posts.

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Earlier,the district administration of Lahore has rejected Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) and other opposition parties’ request to stage a sit-in on Mall Road, a day before the power show against the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Meanwhile PAT Action Committee regarding model town incident held a second meeting in Mihaj ul Quran today and showed determinnation to hold protest against PML N Government. The meeting was attended by PPP, PTI, JI and others.

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The PAT held the two ministers responsible for the 2014 killings of Model Town incident which left 14 of its political workers dead.

Meanwhile, Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Mansoor Ali Shah has constituted a bench which will hear a plea to restrain the Qadri’s party from holding the rally.

Qadri Press Conference

Earlier addressing a press conference in Lahore, Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Chief Tahirul Qadari revealed that all political forces, including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will share one container during the rally organised in protest of the Model Town incident. He added that both Imran Khan and Asif Ali Zardari will be addressing the crowd from one stage.

Earlier PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry as saying that Imran will not be sharing the stage with Zardari.

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“Imran Khan will not join Asif Zardari in the same container, after which the two will address their supporters separately,” said Chaudhry.

In the brief media talk, Qadri also reiterated his party’s demand for the resignations of Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Law Minister Rana Sanullah for their alleged role in the 2014 shooting of political workers.

He said on Tuesday that the party’s ‘grand protest’ will start at noon tomorrow.

The protest, to be held at Mall Road and attended by major opposition parties, seeks the resignations of the ruling party, including the Punjab chief minister and law minister, over the 2014 Model Town incident.Qadri said tomorrow’s protest will be divided into two sessions, adding that, “we are not asking for resignations…they will have to give their resignations”.

He warned Punjab government against decisive protest aimed at getting justice for victims of Model Town incident. Qadri also stated that they cannot even think of violating the Constitution as their movement is for the restoration of democracy.

Qadri claimed that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan and Pakistan Peoples Party co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari will sit on same container tomorrow.

“Protest will be carried out within the limits of Constitution and law as our movement is aimed at restorating real democracy in the country”, Qadri told reporters while adding, “They (ministers and officials of Punjab govt involved in Model Town incident) would have to resign”.He stated that protest would formally begin at 12PM while sit-in would be staged at two places simultaneously.

Schools To Remain Closed

On the other hand, Punjab govt has announced that educational institutions located at and in the vicinity of Mall road will remain closed tomorrow.

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Preparations are Underway

On the other hand, preparations are underway for opposition’s anti-government protest in Lahore despite the provincial government’s warning against it.

The city’s main thoroughfare Mall Road has been blocked for traffic while placing containers, creating immense problems for the commuters.

At least 30 chairs are being set at Chairing cross while an 80-ft long stage will be made for the speakers.

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The protest venue will be extended to GPO chowk. As many as 200 sofas will be positioned in front of the main stage for the central leadership.

LHC Form A New Bench To Hear Petition Against PAT Mall Road Protest

Meanwhile a new bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) has been formed to hear a petition against the Pakistan Awami Tehreek’s (PAT) Mall Road protest which is scheduled to take place on January 17.

The new bench, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan and comprising Justices Shahid Jamil Khan and Shahid Karim, will hear the petition today.

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Petitioner AK Dogar had petitioned the LHC stating that the ‘grand protest’ is against the state and political parties should not take part in it.

PAT chief has also meet PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari today in Lahore ahead of Wednesday’s protests against ruling government of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz.

Security Plan

Meanwhile, the security plan has been drafted for the PAT chairman Tahir ul Qadri-led opposition sit-in against the Punjab government, aimed to mount pressure for the resignation of CM Punjab Shehbaz Sharif and law minister Rana Sanaullah, scheduled on January 17, tomorrow.

According to details, five thousands police personnel will be deployed around the nearby buildings of Mall Road, the protest place of the opposition parties while 1400 Traffic police wardens will also be deployed to makes sure the flow of traffic on the roads leading to Mall Road.Police spokesperson told that to make sure fool proof security more police contingency has also been called from other districts of the province.

“The search operation will be conducted in civil lines division, security will on high alert on the sit-in routes as Dolphin, PRU and Elliot personnel will also patrol on the Mall road.

Business Activities Halted As PAT Geared Up For Protest

On the other hand, traders have complained that protests at Mall Roads have badly affected their business.Traders of the area have opposed the protest at Mall Road and asked the political parties to stop economic murder.In a separate petition regarding the same matter, traders from the area where the protest will be held asked the court to move the venue of the protest to Nasir Bagh.

“We do not want to deprive the protesters from their democratic right, however if the protest is moved to Nasir Bagh, our daily lives will not be disrupted,” the protesters petition said. The hearing of the case is still underway.

Related News:

Punjab Govt Refuses to Allow Qadri-led Sit-in at Mall Road

Punjab Govt Submits Model Town Inquiry Report to LHC