LAHORE, Jan 14: Although the ARD has consistently been condemning what it calls military action in Balochistan, it failed for a second time to organize a rally in the city to express solidarity with the people of the province. The rally was scheduled for Monday, but no preparation were made for it.

Secretary-general Iqbal Zafar Jhagra and deputy information secretary Munir Khan said in a statement the rally was postponed because of the “restrictions” in place and the visit abroad of the ARD chairman.

A new date would be announced subsequently.

ARD chairman Makhdoom Amin Fahim has gone to India to attend some conference, while other PPP leaders had not given a call to its workers to hold the rally.

It is said Punjab PPP president Qasim Zia informed Mr Jhagra that he was not aware of any programme to hold the rally and that he could not organize one in one day. The former advised the latter to postpone the rally.

Another PPP leader told Mr Jhagra that he should approach PPP-Parliamentarians secretary-general Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. When he phoned, he was told that Mr Raja was in London.

Some other ARD leaders did not receive several calls made by Mr Jhagra.

The first rally for the purpose was scheduled for Jan 8. But the 16-party alliance failed to gather more than a couple of dozen people. And since the government had banned rallies by invoking the relevant law, the biggest opposition alliance got a face-saver.

Lahore district nazim Mian Amer Mahmood had said on Friday that the government could propose a suitable route for the rally if the ARD sought permission to hold one. However, he had made it clear that a few people could not be allowed to create traffic problems for people.

JAVED HASHMI: Meanwhile, PML-N acting president Javed Hashmi said in a statement on Saturday the military rule was a threat to the country.