PESHAWAR: Pakistan Peoples Party has rejected government’s plea for postponement of all political public rallies and described the plan for containing coronavirus mere an attempt to discourage opposition parties.

Addressing workers meeting at the residence of former minister Syed Zahir Ali Shah here, PPP provincial president Humayun Khan said that his party had finalised preparations to ensure participation of maximum workers in the Nov 22 Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally in Peshawar.

He said that big rallies of PDM in various cities of the country baffled the leadership of ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-insaf and government had no other option to restrict opposition’s rallies but to announce a plan for containing Covid-19.

“PDM rallies have caused serious unrest among ranks of the ruling party and it is trying to spoil opposition’s efforts for ousting the government. PDM is determined to hold its rallies in different provinces as per schedule,” said Mr Khan. He added that opposition was not ready to hold talks with government for cancellation of rallies.

He said that PPP workers from all districts would participate in the rally.

The PPP workers, he said, would give warm welcome to PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on his arrival in Peshawar.

Mr Khan alleged that government rigged the Gilgit-Baltistan elections and PPP was not ready to accept the results.

PPP provincial secretary information Senator Rubina Khalid, Syed Zahir Ali Shah, city district president Zulfiqar Afghani, general secretary Zulfiqar Awan, provincial senior vice president Syed Ayub Shah also spoke on the occasion.

They criticised the government and said that no serious efforts had so far been made to strengthen national economy.

They said that price hike proved that the rulers were unable to run the country’s affairs efficiently.

They said that PPP would continue struggle for supremacy of Constitution, rule of law and freedom of expression.

They said that PPP would continue to raise voice for rights of people and against the price hike. They said that opposition’s rallies were peaceful and meant to strengthen democracy in the country.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2020