PTI all set for Lahore rally

LAHORE : Preparations of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to display a strong show of street power on Sunday (today) at Minar-e-Pakistan are  in full swing , as thousands of supporters began arriving in the city amidst party leaders accusing the government of blocking participants from entering Lahore by impounding public and private vehicles on inter-city routes.

Addressing a press conference at the venue on Saturday evening, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Vice President MPA Shoaib Siddiqi and other leaders, including Senator Faisal Javed, Iftikhar Durrani and Aisha Chaudhry, alleged that hundreds of vehicles were being impounded by police on the roads leading to Lahore from other districts of Punjab.

They warned if the rulers did not desist from obstructing the peaceful holding of the public meeting, entire responsibility of law and order would rest on the shoulders of the rulers.

They said they had held several meetings with the district and local administrations, and police, informing them about the complete details of the arrangements at the venue, including stage, entry gates and boundaries of the venue.

The PTI leaders claimed to have placed 50,000 chairs, and different sections of district and tehsil leaderships were given targets of bringing maximum participants.

They alleged that the ruling party’s 'Gullu Butts' were ruining all of their peaceful arrangements for the public meeting. They said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had always maintained peace and tranquility, but warned that if their workers were pushed to the limits, no guarantee of peace could be given.

They said separate entry gates were set up for men and women, while parking arrangements were made at the bus stand. They said food and water arrangements were made in plenty to maintain peace and discipline among the participants. They said women would reach the venue through the road from the railway station.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf central Punjab President Abdul Aleem Khan alleged that official machinery was being used to obstruct and harass the PTI workers from peacefully participating in the public meeting.

He hoped that Lahorites and the PTI Junoon would defeat all those opposing peaceful political change in the country and the forces of the status quo.