Faisalabad tense amid PTI’s shutdown threat

Published December 8, 2014
FAISALABAD: Political activists shouting slogans against each other during a face-off at the Clock Tower intersection here on Sunday.—Online
FAISALABAD: Political activists shouting slogans against each other during a face-off at the Clock Tower intersection here on Sunday.—Online

FAISALABAD: Activists of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf and the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N confronted each other here on Sunday as the textile city braced itself for a tense Monday declared by the former as the venue for launching its ‘Plan C’ protests against alleged vote fraud.

The PTI has announced its plan to paralyse the city and later expand its protests to Karachi and Lahore and eventually to the entire country.

Activists of the two parties who had gathered at what is virtually the city centre, the Clock Tower intersection, shouted slogans and pelted each other with tomatoes and eggs.

Also read:Political protests will be dealt in a political manner: Pervez Rashid

Club-wielding workers of both parties, led by their local leaders, were also there to support their sides. At one point when PML-N supporters started pushing and shoving their rivals, the PTI activists left the scene only to return after about half an hour.

The PTI squad surrounded the intersection and some of them tore down PML-N banners put up on the fence around the Clock Tower. A heavy police contingent was deployed in the area and District Coordination Officer Noorul Ameen Mengal and city police chief Sohail Tajik urged workers of both the parties to remain calm. Police also held a flag march on various roads.

Meanwhile, owners of public transport vehicles announced that they would ply their buses on Monday, ignoring the PTI’s protest call.

PM discusses with Punjab chief minister plan to cope with protest

At a press conference, their representatives Israr Ahmed, Mohammad Aslam and Mian Shahbaz said they would ensure protection of passengers. They praised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for building the motorway, Indus Highway and Coastal Highway and doubling the capacity of the GT Road and launching the Green Taxi, self-employment and Metro Bus schemes.

In Lahore, meanwhile, the prime minister held a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to discuss a plan to handle the situation. He is reported to have asked the chief minister to ensure that law and order was maintained in the city.

The chief minister said in a statement that every possible step would be taken to protect people’s life and property. He said no-one would be allowed to forcibly stop business activities.

In a related development, leaders of the PML-Q and Sunni Tehreek announced in the evening that they would support the protest.

Published in Dawn December 8th , 2014

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.