Staff Reporter
Lahore
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Saturday urged the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) to delay their December 13 Lahore rally in light of terror threats and the Coronavirus situation. Buzdar called upon the opposition to resolve issues its through dialogue. Speaking to the media here, the Punjab chief minister urged the opposition alliance to discuss their issues through dialogue and not by “compromising or playing with people’s lives”.
Buzdar said the current coronavirus situation in Lahore was very grave and the positivity rate was more than 46 per cent. “It is not appropriate to play with the people’s lives like this and permission [for the rally] will not be given”.
Addressing the opposition, he said nowhere in the world are protests and gatherings being held. “Why are you doing them, are they happening anywhere else that you can justify yourself? What is the need for this, is there some kind of emergency?”
He stated that the government will deal with the PDM in accordance with the law and its provisions.
Meanwhile, Punjab Law Minister Basharat Raja said the PDM was not allowed to hold the public meeting in the light of the directives issued by the National Command and Control Centre.
“Action will be taken against those who take the law into their own hands. The PDM should avoid holding meeting in view of corona and security concerns,” he said.
The National Counter Terrorism Authority has also warned of a possible terrorist attempt on Dec 13 in Lahore. Two separate notifications issued on Dec 9 said that the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan may target the PDM’s Lahore rally.
Usman Buzdar on Saturday also chaired a meeting to review the law and order situation in Lahore. Provincial Minister of Law Raja Basharat and concerned officials attended the meeting.
The Chief Minister directed for taking all possible steps to ensure the writ of the government and warned that no person will be allowed to violate the law.
