September 30 came and went off quite peacefully – contrary to all fears and apprehensions of many, nothing untoward and unpleasant happened. Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI) held its much trumpeted rally at Adda Park Raiwind with organisers strictly adhering to the conditions it had agreed with the Punjab Government and local administration for holding the rally what it called Ehtesab Rally. On the other hand, the Punjab Government, local administration as well as the police at all did not interfere with the rally and its onrushing participants, none was stopped and overall law and order situation was monitored and maintained from a reasonable distance as that was the prime duty and responsibility of the Punjab Government. Both sides stood by their commitments and this is indeed quite commendable.
Prior to the rally, there were announcements from some PTI as well as PML-N quarters that they would carry bats and dandas as a retaliation to each others’ offensive or anything unpleasant and unwelcome said and done during the proceedings of the rally.
It is quite appreciable that some days ahead of the rally, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif had issued a stern warning to both PTI and PML-N supporters that no “ballas” and “ dandas” will be allowed and nobody should try to take law into own hand or try to any law and order situation as nothing of this sort will be allowed at all. This strong worded warning by the chief executive of the province surely had its positive impact and both sides had exercised restraint, remained within their limits and observed and follow the agreed rules.
The Punjab Government had done well firstly allowing a free hand to the PTI to hold the rally within the laid down and agreed conditions and secondly ensuring that the activists from both sides are not allowed to create any law and order situation on any pretext whatsoever. This was surely quite appreciable and commendable.
As for PTI is concerned the rally organizers and participants also showed due respect to the law. What the PTI had gained by holding the rally, irrespective of the number of enthusiasts it had managed to gather, it is for the party leadership to pause and ponder. In all fairness, it would have been much better and appreciated by one and all if the announced rally on September 30 was cancelled or at least put off for some days in view of the prevailing situation with India indulging in sorts of aggressive and hostile activities and doing everything to isolate Pakistan and more important to show solidarity with the Kashmiris brethren and sisters who are continuously struggling, offering sacrifices and withstanding bravely all atrocities of occupying Indian security to secure their birth right of self-determination.
Ehsan ul Haq Qazi
Lahore
