Our Correspondent
Quetta
Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani on Sunday said that foolproof security arrangements have been made by the provincial government for the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) public gathering. On Thursday, NACTA had warned that outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan is planning attacks on political and religious leaderships across Quetta and Peshawar in the near future.
Addressing a press conference in Quetta, Liaquat Shahwani said bomb-proof vehicles have been provided to the PDM leadership and roads going to the hotels, where the leadership is residing are cordoned-off. He said that parking for the vehicles of the people coming to Jalsa has been kept at some distance to the stadium.
The provincial government spokesperson said that PDM leadership is reaching Quetta from yesterday and added that MNA Mohsin Dawar was aware that his entry is banned in Balochistan. He should have sought permission from the government before landing in Quetta, he maintained. Responding to a query, Liaquat Shahwani said that Balochistan government has not arrested any of PDM worker, nor it has any plans.
Preparations for the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) public gathering are in full swing. President PDM Maulana Fazlur Rehman, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, ANP leader Asfand Yar Wali, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, and other leaders will address the rally while PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will address the rally via video link.
The Balochistan government suspended mobile phone service and internet facility in Quetta on Sunday morning on the pretext of security concerns ahead of the opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) power show. The Balochistan government’s move has put questions on the speeches of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as both have planned to address the Quetta rally via video link.
Balochistan government Spokesman Liaquat Shahwani said the mobile phone service has been suspended from Saturday night. Addressing a news conference in Quetta, he said there is a blanket ban on show of any kind of arms. The spokesperson said PDM leadership should ask their workers for cooperation. The Balochistan government has also banned pillion riding in the provincial capital. In addition, the roads leading to the venue are also closed and heavy contingents of police have deployed.
Earlier, the Balochistan chief secretary directed the political parties holding the meeting to take the National Counter Terrorism Authority’s (NACTA) alert seriously. Chief Secretary Capt (retd) Fazeel Asghar also directed officials to enforce Section 144 in the provincial capital owing to the security of central PDM leadership.
Fazeel chaired a high-level meeting in Quetta to review the security plan for the opposition leaders as earlier the leadership was urged to defer the gathering due to security reasons in the provincial capital. Not afraid of any of the steps taken by the provincial government, PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz said the government is revealing its own incompetency.
