LAHORE: The provincial capital was abuzz with gatherings organised by both pro- and anti-government parties.

Activists of Majlis-i-Wahdatul Muslimeen, Pakistan Awami Tehreek and Sunni Ittehad Council staged a sit-in opposite the Lahore Press Club for the fourth consecutive day. A few dozen participants shouted slogans against the government and demanded justice in the Model Town case.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf held a sit-in at Lalak Jan Chowk in the Defence Housing Authority as well as in C-Block Model Town, closing roads to traffic. A large number of women and children also participated in both protests and raised slogans of ‘Go Nawaz Go’.

PTI member Waleed Iqbal announced in Model Town that the venue for the sit-in would be shifted to Liberty Chowk from Monday.

PML-N man becomes container casualty

The two sit-ins were held to express solidarity with the protest PTI Chairman Imran Khan is holding in Islamabad for the last 10 days to press Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif to resign from their respective offices.

Chants for change and the status quo go hand in hand at Lahore’s Lalak Jan Chowk and Davies Road.

On the other hand, the PML-N and its allies, which had so far been watching the anti-government protests as silent spectators, have also begun flexing their muscles.

MPA Malik Waheed led a motorcycle rally in Dharampura, while MPA Waheed Gul organised a corner meeting at Lal Pul. Another PML-N rally was taken out from Moon Market to Bhekaywal Morr.

Moreover, a man died as a container the PML-N had put up fell on him in Mozang while he was preparing for the party’s Istehkam-i-Pakistan rally to be held on Monday. Abuzar Sheikh, a party’s local office-bearer, was putting up banners and posters when the container that was to serve as the stage fell on him. He was immediately rushed to nearby Ganga Ram Hospital but he could not survive.

The JUI-F, an ally of the PML-N, also staged a rally outside the Masjid Shuhada on The Mall, while the Muslim Youth Organisation staged a pro-government demonstration outside the press club.

FAISALABAD: The PML-N took out a rally in favour of democracy from the District Council Chowk up to the Clock Tower intersection here on Sunday.

Carrying banners and placards, PML-N activists coming from different parts of the district participated in the Istehkam-i-Pakistan rally and chanted slogans in favour of democracy in the country.

Former Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah, MNA Mian Mannan and other parliamentarians led the rally.

Rana Sana said the people had rejected Imran Khan’s civil disobedience call and transaction of the cash through Hundi. He said a group was demanding resignation of Nawaz Sharif who had the mandate of millions of Pakistanis.

Mr Sana asked participants to raise slogans against the people staging sit-ins in Islamabad so that they could mend their ways.

“Pakistan has rule of law with a strong constitution and no dictator can spoil the system”, he said.

The ruling party and its allies held rallies in other parts of Punjab as well on Monday.

Published in Dawn, August 25th, 2014