LAHORE-
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) kicked off a ‘lockdown’ protest in Lahore; Punjab’s provincial capital, under its ‘Plan C’ to pressurise the government of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for vote audit of May 2013 general elections.
Around 18 strategic points have been selected by the party to block roads and record protests and sit-in under the plan which seeks to paralyse major cities of Pakistan to amp up pressure on the government.
Party workers burned tyres and staged sin-in in areas including Chungi Amar Sadhu, Chowk Yateem Khana, Akbar Chowk, Liberty, Main Boulevard and Bhatta Chowk etc.
RT @PTIPunjabPK: Lahore observes complete #ShutDownToRebuild in response to Pakistan Tehreek-E-Insaf’s call. pic.twitter.com/PWvayhcWVw
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 15, 2014
RT @PTIPunjabPK: Thokar Niaz is flooded with red and green! #ShutDownToRebuild Lahore pic.twitter.com/rXyMvbki9u
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 15, 2014
At 8:00 AM, PTI leaders Yasmeen Rashid and Andleeb Abbas led party workers to the Lahore Secretariat to stop officers from work. It was reported that the Secretariat officers had been directed to report earlier than usual.
A demonstration is also underway at GPO Chowk near Lahore High Court by PTI lawyers forum.
RT @PTIPunjabPK: High Court avenue blocked by Insaf Lawyers Forum ! #ShutDownToRebuild pic.twitter.com/VVw4qVQPlh
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 15, 2014
It was also reported that PTI activists entered the metro bus track in Lahore’s Shahdara area, suspending the Metro Bus services temporarily.
PTI Chief Imran Khan will address the protesters from a podium set near the Punjab Assembly; the centre stage of today’s protest.
Khan spoke to the media at his residence in Bani Gala, shortly before his departure to Lahore.
“I appeal nation that it must render sacrifice for the sake of democracy. I assure you that Lahore will experience a historic and peaceful protest today, if they did not unleash their Gullus on us,” he said.
“I have also directed my workers not to misbehave with media person, not a single ambulance will be stopped today, and if any one of our workers found involved in violence he will be expelled from party,” he added.
Businessmen, educational institutes divide
Businessmen and trading unions stay divided over the call for a shutter-down strike, concerned for vandalism.
Reportedly, government has offered ‘foolproof’ security to traders who don’t want to lose a day’s profits.
The government has also issued orders to public educational institutes to remain open on Monday and ensure 100 per cent attendance by students and teachers.
A private channel reported that around 6,000 students studying in 32 colleges –along with their lecturers—are bound to watch Pakistan-Kenya One Day International cricket match.
Private teaching establishments decided to close education institutions in the wake of an uncertain situation.
A heavy police presence is on the streets to try to prevent violence, following clashes at a similar protest in the city of Faisalabad last week.
“A contingent of 15,000 police personnel have been deployed in the city to avoid any untoward incident,” senior police official Haider Ashraf told a foreign news agency