Ignoring the Punjab government’s announcement that the opposition won’t be allowed to hold the December 13 rally, the PML-N workers forced their way into the Greater Iqbal Park on Saturday morning and started making arrangements for the power show, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The administration had locked the Gate No 5 of the Greater Iqbal Park, where the Minar-e-Pakistan is located, to impede the opposition’s preparations. But the PML-N workers totally ignored the warnings and threats, as they also transported the necessary material and started erecting the stage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28an9x5k9WI

On the other hand, Special Assistant to the Punjab Chief Minister on information Firdous Ashiq Awan threatened action according to law and warned that the rally organisers would be responsible for any untoward incident.

https://twitter.com/Dr_FirdousPTI/status/1337616135014002690 

She said that the district administration had decided not to give PDM permission for the rally keeping in mind the intelligence reports and ban imposed on over 300-strong gathering to stop the coronavirus spread.

Firdous claimed that the time for a breakup among the PDM ranks wasn’t far away and described the planned event as a political circus.

However, the breakup claim couldn’t be substantiated as both PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and PML-N Vice-president Maryam Nawaz at a joint press conference just yesterday ruled out any possibility of talks with the government or giving NRO to Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Bilawal said that the establishment’s role in government formation would have to come to an end. Both the government and the facilitators would have to think and accept the people’s decision, he added. 

About resignations, Bilawal said they were ready to give the sacrifice of their government in Sindh, adding that those talking about any cracks in the PDM were just daydreaming.

Speaking on the occasion, Maryam said the sitting ministers were in contact with the top PDM leaders for talks but she wasn’t interested in that and did not even consider it appropriate to give a reply.

The person who had been stating repeatedly that he won’t give any NRO was begging for talks. Neither the PDM nor the people would give any NRO to Imran, she remarked.

Maryam said she believed from the very beginning that the current government was bogus and there shouldn’t be any dialogue with them.

On Friday night, PML-N Deputy Secretary-General Attaullah Tarar in a video message had warned the government of severe consequences if any of the party leader or worker was even touched.

https://twitter.com/TararAttaullah/status/1337420077013098497