PTI not impressed by 'divided' opposition's protest threats

Published May 22, 2019
The PTI, Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar emphasised, would  not only complete its term but would win the next polls as well. — DawnNewsTV/File
The PTI, Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar emphasised, would not only complete its term but would win the next polls as well. — DawnNewsTV/File

LAHORE: The opposition parties that gathered for an Iftar dinner at Islamabad recently say that each one of them will protest (against price hike) separately; meaning thereby they are neither united nor could ever be, says Governor Chaudhry Muhammad Sarwar.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he claimed that due to these internal divisions in the opposition, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf was not taking its protest threats seriously. Formation of such alliances was also more of a routine in any democratic polity and that was why the PTI was not bothered about it, he added.

The PTI, he emphasised, would not only complete its term but would win the next polls as well.

The media was invited to share details of preparations for the 550th birth celebrations of Baba Guru Nanak.

Earlier, the governor, flanked by Sardar Giyan Gobind Singh and Bishan Singh, told the media that an unprecedented bus convoy – Journey to Kartarpur – would start from Toronto on September 15 and arrive in Pakistan in 40 days after travelling through nine European countries. The convoy would comprise Canadians of Pakistani origin and representatives of the Sikh community.

The purpose of this historic journey was to project a soft image of Pakistan, telling the world it was a peaceful and peace loving country, which yearned for peace not only in the region but the world as well and it respected its minorities, he said.

“Approximately 70 per cent of the project has been completed. Pakistan has already acquired 1,493 acres of land for the complex. We urge India to complete its part of the corridor to facilitate the pilgrims from its side,” Chaudhry said.

About the preparations of birthday celebrations, which falls in November, the governor said all security arrangements were being completed rapidly.

“I recently met Interior Minister Ijaz Shah for expediting security arrangements for the event and would call on the officials of the foreign ministry shortly to ensure required visas (including double entry) are issued quickly and smoothly,” Sarwar said.

“If Pakistan succeeds in promoting religious tourism, it could annually fetch $4 billion to $5bn easily. The Turks earn over $40 billion from this single source.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2019

Opinion

Editorial

Tax unrest
Updated 14 Jul, 2025

Tax unrest

Govt has a very poor track record of staying the course of tough decisions that affect the ruling party’s core political base.
Surging numbers
14 Jul, 2025

Surging numbers

PAKISTAN is running out of time — and space. Our population, now over 240m, continues to grow at nearly 2pc a ...
Media matters
14 Jul, 2025

Media matters

PAKISTAN’s journalists are no strangers to living dangerously. The Freedom Network’s new report, Journalism in...
Hybrid worries
Updated 13 Jul, 2025

Hybrid worries

Once elected office is reduced to theatre, useful only for maintaining appearances, it becomes a stage for managing perceptions rather than exercising power.
Bitter taste
13 Jul, 2025

Bitter taste

THE government’s plan to import 350,000 tonnes of sugar, months after allowing the export of more than twice that...
No red lines
13 Jul, 2025

No red lines

THE US’ move to sanction Francesca Albanese, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied...