RAWALPINDI, April 14: The local police on Thursday picked up 70 activists of Pakistan People’s Party in a massive crackdown to prevent them from going to Lahore to receive their leader Asif Ali Zardari, police sources said. A police official said cases against the arrested PPP workers were likely to be registered under 3 MPO. The hunt for the PPP workers was on till midnight. However, none of the PPP leaders could be arrested.

The raids were conducted on the residences of PPP leaders and activists in Westridge, Chaklala, RA Bazaar, Waris Khan and Satellite Town during which several people were taken into custody.

The government has already banned holding of protest demonstrations and rallies in Rawalpindi and Lahore as well as imposed Section 144.

Punjab Chief Minister Ch Pervaiz Elahi has already warned that if any worker of the PPP tried to violate the ban or create law and order situation, they would be dealt with an iron hand.

Meanwhile, People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPP) MNA Zumarad Khan on Thursday said a party procession will leave for Lahore on April 16 early in the morning to accord a rousing welcome to Asif Ali Zardari on his return from Dubai.

A press release issued by the Rawalpindi chapter of PPP said if the administration tried to stop the procession from proceeding to Lahore, it would be resisted with full force, as it was their legal, democratic and constitutional right to receive their leader.

The MNA made this statement after holding a meeting at an undisclosed place in the city.

The meeting was addressed by Sumera Khan, MNA Fauzia Habib and other party leaders. Zumarad Khan advised the women workers to exercise restraint. He said if the government did not release the workers, then the administration will have to pay a heavy price for it.

The MNA said despite all measures taken by the police, the workers would do their best to ensure their presence at the Lahore airport. He asked the workers to go to Lahore come hell or high water.