Opposition alliance Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is all set for powershow at Qasim Bagh Stadium in Multan on the eve of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Foundation Day as authorities sealed city roads with barbed wires and containers to contain opposition rally, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The TV channel reported that city administration did not give permission for holding a public rally in Qasim Bagh park, however, all the bigwigs of PDM have announced what may come the rally will be conducted.

Amid heavy deployment of police, all roads leading to the PDM’s to Qasim Bagh Stadium are sealed with containers.

The city’s Ghanta Ghar Chowk has also been sealed and Multan Metro, Speedo Bus Service, city markets are also closed on the first trading day of the week.

The TV channel reported that mobile phone and internet service are also suspended in the city.

On the other hand, workers of different political parties have started arriving in Multan and there is a risk of clashes between political parties’ workers and police.

It is pertinent to note that police have carried out a crackdown in several cities and arrested several workers ahead of PDM public rally.

Earlier, Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in a tweet said, “With the state of Kufa, you cannot build a state of Madinah,” while sharing video footage in which police baton-charged and arrested PPP workers ahead of Multan jalsa.

https://twitter.com/BBhuttoZardari/status/1332945413515718656

The TV channel reported that if PDM would not be allowed to hold a rally in Qasim Bagh in Multan then the rally would be arranged on the main road.

24NewsHD exclusively found out the PDM possible plan in case the authorities would not allow the opposition parties to gather their workers in the stadium for the PPP Foundation Day ceremony.

Sources claimed that convoys comprising workers of all parties in PDM would oppose all hurdles while going towards Qasim Bagh.

Sources also claimed, ‘If the PDM leadership cannot reach the meeting place, JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman will make a big announcement today.”

The caravan of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam under the aegis of Maulana Fazlur Rehman will leave for Qasim Bagh from Qasim-ul-Uloom to attend the public rally while a convoy of PML-N will leave from the secretariat PML-N led by Maryam Nawaz.

The convoy of PPP left from Bilawal House under the leadership of Aseefa Bhutto Zardari through designated routes and have reached Multan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbGz_MhTD4w

It is worthy to note that Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, daughter of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, will deliver her debut political speech in Multan as her brother PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari contracted with COVID-19 and decided to address workers via video link.

Maryam Nawaz Sharif

PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz Sharif before leaving for the venue talked to media persons and said: “Rulers have turned the city into a wrestling ring as containers placed on roads are a reflection of the fear.”

She said the public rally of Multan has already become successful as people of Pakistan are with PDM.”

PML-N Vice President complained the government and Jamaat-e-Islami rallies are being conducted but the government only wanted to stop opposition jalsa in the name of coronavirus spread fears.

https://www.facebook.com/1545150422365407/videos/677531246289025

Maryam Nawaz Sharif shared several retweets on her Twitter account including a Saraiki song titled “Jeenday rahe tay dhola Multan milso.”

https://twitter.com/BSWarraich/status/1333300418114424833

On the other hand, digital media platforms are also filled with thousands of tweets with hashtags like #MultanJalsaTohHoga and #SiasatKaroGharNaUjaro (in Urdu) making another battleground for political parties workers.

Head of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rahman has already said that the PDM rally in Multan on Monday will be held at any cost.

Addressing media men after chairing a key meeting of PDM leaders in Multan, the JUI-F chief accused the incumbent government of committing state terrorism. The PDM workers are being arrested in Multan to impede the rally, he added.