RAWALPINDI: Officials in the Punjab government were astonished to see a large number of public transport vehicles a part of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) rallies.

A report has been sought from the Special Branch of Punjab police, inquiring where they had gotten these vehicles when the authorities concerned had convinced transporters not to provide vehicles for the rally.

According to a source, public transporters were being watched and had allegedly been convinced by the district administration not to provide public transport to the PTI - in an attempt to discourage people from participating in the protest demonstration on November 30.

The Special Branch in its report sent to the government claimed that 45,000 to 50,000 people were attending the PTI protest in Islamabad. As many as 10,000 to 15,000 people are participating from Punjab.

A senior police officer revealed that none of the vehicles carrying PTI activists were stopped by police at any check point or harassed by police as there were clear instructions from the government not to stop PTI workers from attending the rally.

Published in Dawn, December 1st , 2014