LAHORE: Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif met here on Tuesday to finalise the government’s strategy to deal with the rally the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) plans to hold in Islamabad on Nov 30.

A source in the ruling PML-N said the two leaders resolved that the PTI would not be given a “free hand” to hold an impressive show in the federal capital.

“They decided on a strategy under which the opposition party will be allowed to hold the rally, but certain tactics will be employed to stop its workers and supporters from reaching the venue,” the source said.

Mr Sharif and Mr Khan later attended a meeting, which was also attended by other PML-N leaders and top administration officials.

MNA Hamza Shahbaz, Railways Minister Saad Rafique, Punjab Home Minister Col Shuja Khanzada, Food Minister Bilal Yasin, former law minister Rana Sanaullah, Punjab IGP Mushtaq Ahmed Sukhera and Chief Secretary Navid Akram Cheema were among those who attended the meeting. However, Punjab Law Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman was conspicuous by his absence.

According to a senior PML-N leader, the law ministry is expected to be returned to Mr Sanaullah soon. “That is why he is behaving like a full-time minister now.”

Although no specific instructions were given to police at the meeting with regard to arrest of PTI workers before Nov 30, the officers were asked to be ready to execute any order in this regard, the sources said.

They said police had already prepared lists of PTI workers and activists and were closely monitoring their efforts to gather maximum number of people for the Islamabad rally.

Mr Sharif told the meeting: “Nobody will be allowed to take the law into his hand. If anyone tries to do so, he will face strict action,” the chief minister remarked.

He said the Punjab government would fully enforce the federal government’s guidelines regarding the Nov 30 rally.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Shafqat Mahmood told Dawn that police and special branch personnel had started harassing PTI workers. “The special branch personnel are visiting the houses of PTI workers and asking them to appear at police stations,” he said.

Mr Mahmood added that Punjab police had begun asking transporters not to rent out their buses and vans to the PTI for the rally.

“The PML-N has a habit of using police to suppress its opponents. But if the government uses force against our party workers it alone will be responsible for the consequences,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2014