16 April 2005	Saturday	06 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1426

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LAHORE, April 15: Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi said on Friday the government had imposed a complete ban on processions and rallies in the province, especially in Lahore, on the demand of the general public and traders as their day-to-day life is adversely affected by such activities.

In a statement issued here, he said this restriction had been enforced without any discrimination to maintain law and order.

He said the government had not allowed any political party to take out processions and this prohibition was also applicable to the ruling PML, which had always abided by it. The government had allowed public meetings only at specified places and the MMA was permitted to organize its meeting under this policy, he said.

Pervaiz Elahi said Mr Zardari and his party were not planning any political activity on Saturday, but their sole interest was to create chaos and disturb the democratic system as well as ongoing development process in the country, especially in the Punjab.

He said it was for the first time in the history of the country that three cement factories and a paper mill were inaugurated in the province only on a single day. These would provide job opportunities to thousands of people in Pothohar area, he added.

He said a number of development projects were being implemented in various sectors and the pace of local and foreign investment had rapidly increased. The opponents of the present government considered the ongoing development programmes a threat to their political ambitions and were trying to sabotage this process, he said, pledging that the government would not allow those elements to succeed in their selfish designs.

Raja: Law Minister Basharat Raja said here on Friday that masses would be compelled to boycott the PPP if it did not desist from its policy of confrontation.

In a statement issued here, he said the drama staged by the PPP to make political mileage had flopped.

The PPP leadership was already aware of Zardari’s programme but it misled party workers by giving a call for reception. No restriction was imposed by the government on Mr Zardari’s arrival but it was effectively handled, he said.

He said the release on parole from courts did not mean one’s innocence in Swiss courts also. He reminded that Swiss courts were asking federal and provincial governments as well as Interpol for the arrest of Mr Zardari and

Ms Benazir Bhutto.

The minister warned the leadership of all political parties and workers that Section 144 was in force throughout the province under which there was a complete ban on taking out of processions and rallies.

He said that if any political party tried to violate this restriction, strict action would be taken and nobody would be allowed to create a law and order situation or to damage public or private property.

Raja Basharat said there was no ban on political activities. However, under the law, prior permission was required from the district government for holding public meetings.

The minister said million march, strikes and rallies were no solution to people’s problems. He appealed to the opposition to refrain from exploiting the masses for the securing of its vested interests and rather cooperate with the government in the implementation of Gen Musharraf’s policies for a stable and prosperous Pakistan.

He advised the opposition on Friday not to hold public life hostage to its negative political designs and instead display political wisdom and maturity in the interest of democracy and the country.