Expressing their distrust in the administration and Lahore Police, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its 20 allied parties on Tuesday demanded that paramilitary Rangers be entrusted the security duty in the NA-122 and PP-147 constituencies.
The call was issued after a meeting between PTI Punjab Organiser Chaudhary Mohammad Sarwar and others, including Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Lahore chief Maqsood Ahmad, Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) head Sahibzada Hamid Raza. The meeting participants claimed that government and police officials were being used by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz for harassment of PTI workers and supporters.
The PTI and allies alleged that the rulers were following “Gullu Butt” policy, and warned that the Punjab government and police would be held responsible for any act of violence.
The parties unanimously demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) task the Rangers with securing the election constituencies.
Later speaking to the media, Sarwar said “PML-N goons” were propagating against PTI workers fearing defeat in the upcoming by-poll. He made it clear that the PTI would not bow down to any pressure or illegitimate tactics and would face the rivals in accordance with the law and constitution.
Sarwar was of the view that there was no democracy in Punjab while “Gullu and Gundacracy” was the order of the day. He said the PTI would defeat the PML-N with the power of people’s mandate. He said the PTI would never take the law into its own hands and would respond to the rulers in a befitting manner.
JI’s Maqsood Ahmad and SIC head Raza said it was the government’s responsibility to ensure law and order. However, they added, if the rulers themselves started violating the law, then every Pakistani had the right to seek security from other law enforcement agencies.