LAHORE, April 9: Most of participants in the public meeting addressed by President Musharraf at the Minar-i-Pakistan on Tuesday appeared to have been brought there forcibly in one way or the other.

Police had to lock the gates of the Iqbal Park to prevent them from leaving the venue.

Different government functionaries oversaw the movement of the participants as most of them wanted to leave as the president began his speech. They were herded time to time from one place to the other. Some of them were abused and even slapped by policemen at the gates when they insisted on leaving the place, saying they were starving for hours. Some of them tried to jump over the fences.

Interviews with randomly selected people from the participants revealed that most of them belonged to different government departments. They included employees of district councils, municipal corporations, deputy commissioner’s offices, education and health departments and civic agencies.

“I serve with a union council in Sargodha,” one Munir Ahmad said, adding that he and all of his colleagues were ordered to ensure their presence at the meeting.

“Our seniors herded us into buses on Monday evening. Our names were put on a list and we were asked to sign against their names before leaving the venue,” he claimed.

An old man, who refused to disclose his identity, said he was a peon in a school in Pasrur. “I along with some 30 officials of my department have been brought here under orders from our senior hierarchy,” the man standing with the support of a stick said, adding: “How can I participate voluntarily in such gatherings at this age?”

The organizers had to open one gate when public pressure mounted. Scores of people left the venue during the president’s address.

When this scribe approached a group of villagers leaving the place in a hurry, they said: “What do you expect from us? We have been forced to sit there for seven hours without lunch or tea. We have been drinking water since then.”

Besides the government employees, Nazmeen and pro-government political parties brought a good number of people. Some of them claimed they were ‘hired’ for Rs500 each for attending the meeting. One Kabir of Multan said he and some other 1,000 people were hired for the meeting.

Vehicles of the Parks and Horticulture Authority, the city government and other government departments were used to transport people in addition to public transport vehicles impounded by the Punjab police.

National songs were played on loudspeakers fitted on vehicles. Balloons with banners praying for the success of President Musharraf were released into the air. Different stalls were also been outside the venue to keep people busy. Policeman in plain clothes were found making all these arrangements.

One of such vehicles was ‘sponsored’ by a police inspector.

Following the opening of the gate after the end of the president’s speech, people literally ran outside. “Its like being released from a prison,” one Intizar said.

Interestingly, hundreds of the people started pouring in groups at the venue. “We are waiting for our colleagues and we will leave as soon as they join us,” a man from one of the groups said.

However, roll call among one of the groups was witnessed. Over 100 people were lined up and some four people were seen taking the roll. On inquiry, it was found that the group was of lower cadre army men who were brought to the venue from the Lahore Saddar.

One of the four men rudely asked this reporter to leave the place, saying: “They will not let you know what you want.”

SECURITY: Strict security measures were taken to guard the public meeting.