PPP’s Ali Qasim Gilani among 30 PDM workers arrested ahead of Multan rally

MULTAN: PPP leader Ali Qasim Gilani, the son of former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, was among 30 opposition members who were arrested for violating coronavirus SOPs and breaking gates of Qasim Bagh early on Sunday.

Police in Multan filed a case against PPP workers after they broke through security barriers and stormed into Multan's Qila Qasim Bagh on Saturday ahead of a Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally scheduled to take place there on Monday.

The PPP group to charge at the venue was led by sons of Yousuf Raza Gilani.

The party's workers were able to storm into the stadium despite the heavy police contingent deployed there, following which clashes occurred between the workers and law enforcement agencies.

Read more: PM Imran again asks PDM to call off rallies ahead of Multan jalsa

According to the PPP Media Cell, their workers had taken control of the administration of the stadium and have also set up a welcoming camp outside.

On the other hand, PML-N workers led a rally in Multan and also entered the stadium after it was broken into.

“The rally will be held in Qila Qasim Bagh (at every cost). Today all the barriers of the police and administration have been broken down. After storming the gates, we have taken control of the stadium,” PPP leader Musa Gilani had said.

Police register cases

Police registered a case against 70 named and more than 300 unnamed party workers for breaking off locks and forcing their way into the stadium.

The case was registered at Multan's Lohari Gate Police Station.

Additionally, a case was filed against caterers who had agreed to provide services to the organisers of the November 30 rally and seized some of their equipment.

Read more: Aseefa Bhutto Zardari to address PDM's Nov 30 jalsa in Multan

'Desist from crackdown'

PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has warned the government to desist from carrying out a crackdown against PPP workers in Multan and other parts of Punjab "otherwise there will be protests in every nook and corner of the country", according to a statement by the party.

The PPP chairman said that there are reports that the PTI government is initiating a crackdown against party workers to "create hurdles" in the holding of PPP Foundation Day and PDM rally in Multan.

"Misuse of the state machinery against democratic workers will add fuel to the fire and every responsibility of the situation thereafter would lay on the PTI regime," read the statement.

Bilawal said the Foundation Day rally will be held "anyhow" and PPP and other PDM parties "won't be cowed down by the highhandedness of the regime".

'Rally has already begun'

PPP's Ali Qasim Gilani, the chief coordinator of the scheduled event, said that the "rally had to take place on November 30 but has already begun today (Saturday) because of the administration's moves".

"We had sought to set up a welcoming camp today and so we proceeded to make preparations," he said.

"But the police is harassing us," he continued, adding: "All roads leading to the venue have been blocked."

He said that the party's central leadership will arrive at the venue tomorrow and appealed to the people to ensure they wear masks at all times.

'Buzdar govt exercising restraint'

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to Chief Minister Punjab on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that the Buzdar government is "exercising restraint".

Awan said that the government is holding back but PDM wants the situation to take "a different turn".

"Action will definitely be taken against those elements who tried to take the law into their own hands in Multan!" vowed Awan.

The government and the Opposition are at odds with each other over the PDM jalsa at Qila Qasim Bagh on November 30.

Prime Minister Imran Khan has asked the Opposition parties to call off their rallies as the coronavirus situation in the country is worsening day by day.

However, the Opposition alliance has categorically rejected the government’s demands and vowed to hold rallies all over Multan if it is stopped from holding the Qila Qasim Bagh gathering.