Staff Reporter
Lahore
The senior leadership of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has been warned of possible “terrorist activity” on December 13, the day of the Opposition’s Minar-e-Pakistan rally in Lahore.
Lahore police have sent letters to PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz and lawmakers Khawaja Saad Rafique and Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
“TTP terrorists are coordinating to carry out a terrorist activity on 13 December, 2020. Although details regarding place of terrorist activity and likely targets is not available, the date (13 December 2020) appears to be significant as a huge public gathering is expected at Minar-e-Pakistan,” read the letter.
It states that after the terrorists failed in their attempt in Peshawar, “they are planning to shift their operatives, required material and logistics towards another place (most likely Lahore)”. Meanwhile, a day before the opposition alliance, the Pakistan Democratic Movement scheduled public rally, a large number of workers of Pakistan Muslim League-N on Saturday forced their way into the venue.
The workers broke the locks on the park’s gates by the authorities to keep the opposition alliance from holding the rally on December 13, and entered the Greater Iqbal Park with the equipment and started building the stage.
On the other hand, the Punjab government has imposed a smart lockdown in 13 areas neighbouring Minar-e-Pakistan ahead of the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s anti-government rally.
A notification issued by the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department on Saturday stated that the order will come into force tonight and will stay till December 25.
The areas that have been named in the notification are Rang Mehal, Androon Shera Wala Gate, Mochi Gate, Adroon Bhatti Gate, Chuhan Road, four streets of Ravi Road and four streets in Badami Bagh.
Entry and exit into the neighbourhoods will be controlled and people will only be allowed to go out unless absolutely necessary. General stores, tandoors and petrol pumps will be allowed to remain open from 9am to 7pm throughout the week. Medical stores, hospitals, clinics and bakeries will be open round the clock for seven days a week.
All markets, restaurants, offices will remain closed and a complete ban has been placed on the movement of people from one place to another. One person will be allowed in a vehicle. Further, a complete ban has been placed on public and religious gatherings and no public dealings at call centres and cellular company offices
As part of the ongoing anti-government movement, the Pakistan Democratic Movement on Saturday announced the schedule for protests to be held in different cities of Balochistan, with JUI-F Secretary-General Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri directing the opposition to ensure their participation.
