Capital on tsunami alert as Skipper warns of risk to democracy

As the federal capital braces for the Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf’s (PTI) ‘tsunami of change’, party chairman Imran Khan on Saturday warned that the government would put democracy at risk if it tried to forcibly stop the party’s workers from staging a protest rally against alleged election rigging at D-Chowk today (Sunday).

Addressing a press conference a day before the scheduled anti-rigging protest, Khan said the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would be responsible for any reaction if the PTI’s democratic right to protest was usurped through state power and unlawful means.

Khan claimed that the government was using administrative machinery to pressurize transporters not to book vehicles for the PTI rally. “However, government leaders are making false statements on television channels. PML-N should learn to speak the truth,” Khan said.

The PTI leader said that he was not demanding mid-term elections rather he just wanted recounting of votes in four constituencies. He appealed to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif “to play the match under impartial umpires”. He said he was able to appoint neutral umpires in the game of cricket and would do his best to get neutral umpires appointed in the Election Commission.

The PTI chairman said that the rulers were running advertisements of artificial prosperity through its “favourite channel” at the cost of poor taxpayers’ money. He alleged that Geo TV had become the media cell of PML-N and was getting maximum adverts.

Khan said the government was issuing cards to journalists to prevent impartial coverage of the PTI rally, pointing out that there is no condition of cards for Geo TV and the state-owned channel (PTV).

Asked about threats of terrorist attacks during the rally, Khan was of the view that it was an attempt to make the protest unsuccessful. He questioned why anyone would attack them when they are supporters of peace, adding that the spirit of workers could not be defeated by the threat of terrorism.

Khan said he would give the future course of action, charter of demands and the timeframe for its fulfillment at Sunday’s meeting. “The government has sealed the entire area but the PTI workers will reach the venue. My workers will reach D-Chowk come what may,” he said. “Nobody can stop the start of the movement to create a new Pakistan in which a transparent electoral system will be in place,” he added.

The PTI chief also questioned the manner in which Prime Minister Sharif had invited him for dialogue “over a cup of tea”. “If he wanted to invite me for talks he could have telephoned me instead of making the offer in a public rally. This shows the government’s seriousness in resolving issues,” he said.

PTI WORKERS BEING HARASSED:

Meanwhile, other PTI leaders have alleged that PTI workers are being stopped from participating in the protest at Islamabad’s D-Chowk.

Speaking at a press conference, PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that the federal government was using methods of dictatorship to stop the protest, adding that people setting protest camps in Rawalpindi are being threatened.

Qureshi added that hurdles were being created in the way of the party workers, coming to Islamabad from different parts of the country to attend the protest demonstration.

PTI leader Shireen Mazari claimed that the Punjab government was adopting measures to stop people from attending the PTI anti-rigging rally.

Islamabad city administration has reportedly placed containers to cordon off the Red Zone of the city ahead of today’s rally. All four entry points of the Red Zone have been sealed.

Talking to a private news channel, Mazari alleged that the Faisalabad administration had closed down all bus stands, preventing people from travelling to Islamabad for the rally. She alleged that the decision was taken on Friday night in a meeting between the city’s traffic police and transporters. The administration reportedly advised transporters to halt bus services to Islamabad, Lahore and Southern Punjab and hence all bus stands have been closed since Saturday morning.

Mazari claimed to have received reports from Multan, Sargodha, Silakot, Mandi Bahauddin and Lahore of police pressurising bus drivers not to take PTI supporters to the rally.

“Our workers in Rawalpindi have been threatened by the police. Police and Intelligence Bureau officials are going to workers’ houses and harassing them,” she said.

She also said that bus owners who were hired to transport supporters to Islamabad have refused to do so claiming that the government has threatened to cancel their permits if they provide transportation to PTI supporters.

However, despite all hindrances, Mazari was confident that PTI workers would attend the rally. “Our workers believe in our cause and they will reach D-Chowk no matter what,” she said.

Mazari said a caravan from Quetta was also en route to Islamabad and that no obstacles were reported so far, adding that a caravan from Dera Ghazi Khan had already reached Islamabad.

The PTI leader said the party workers would stage a protest whereever the government tries to stop their caravans.

PUNJAB GOVT DENIES ALLEGATIONS:

Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah denied allegations by PTI leaders.

He claimed that bus stations were not closed and transportation services were operational. “No restrictions have been placed by the government but no one will be allowed to enter the rally with firearms, as mentioned in the No-Objection Certificate (NOC) issued to the party,” Sanaullah said.

“Intelligence agencies have informed us of a security threat for two rallies taking place on Sunday and placed them on red alert,” he said.

The Pakistan Awami Tehreek is also holding a demonstration in Islamabad today against alleged rigging in May 2013 general elections.