ISLAMABAD- Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have said that PTI workers were being stopped to participate in their protest at D-Chowk of Islamabad on Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference, PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the federal government was using the methods of dictatorship to stop their protest. He further said that threats were being given to the people who were setting the protest camps in Rawalpindi.
PTI leader also added that hurdles were being created in the way of the party workers, coming to Islamabad from different parts of the country, for the protest. Meanwhile PTI leader Dr Shireen Mazari also claimed that the Punjab government was taking measures to stop people from attending the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) anti-rigging rally set to take place Sunday in Islamabad. The Islamabad city administration has reportedly placed containers to cordon off the Red Zone of the city ahead of Sunday’s rally at Express Chowk. All four entry points of the Red Zone have been sealed.
Mazari, while talking to a private news channel, alleged that the Faisalabad administration had closed down all bus stands, preventing people from travelling to Islamabad for the rally. The decision was taken on Friday night in a meeting between traffic police and transporters. The administration reportedly advised transporters to halt bus services to Islamabad, Lahore and South Punjab and hence all bus stands have been closed since this morning.
The PTI leader further claimed that she has received reports from Multan, Sargodha, Silakot, Mandi Bahauddin and Lahore regarding police pressurising bus drivers not to take PTI supporters to the rally. According to her, obstacles were being created, pressure was being used and threats were being made to stop party workers and supporters from attending the rally. “Our workers in Rawalpindi have been threatened by the police,” she said. “Police and Intelligence Bureau are going to workers’ houses and harassing them,” she continued. However, despite these hindrances, Mazari was confident that workers will attend the rally. “Our workers believe in our cause and they will reach no matter what,” she said. The PTI leader said that the party workers would stage a protest whereever the government will try to stop their caravans.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah denied these allegations and said that they were baseless. He claimed that bus stations were not closed and services were operational. “No restrictions have been placed by the government but no one will be allowed to enter with firearms as mentioned in the no-objection certificate (NOC) issued to the party,” he continued. “Intelligence agencies have informed us of a security threat on the two rallies taking place tomorrow and placed them on red alert,” told Sanuallah. Pakistan Awami Tehreek is also holding a demonstration against alleged rigging in the May 11 general elections last year in Islamabad tomorrow.