Govt plans to file FIRS against rally organisers
ISLAMABAD: The government has changed its policy on the public rallies being held by the opposition alliance, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
It took this decision ater faux pas in Multan where the government first tried hard to block the PDM public meeting on Nov.30 but withdrew from its position ater the opposition was hell-bent on organising its protest.
“The government would lodge First Information Reports (FIRS) against the organisers of public meetings and leaders of political parties for violating the coronavirus related standard operating procedures ( SOPS) and guidelines,” Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz told reporters. But it would not stop such protest.
“When something illegal is done, the case should be filed. The opposition is acting illegally by holding public meetings, so that is why they should be held accountable.”
Shibli added that the cases should be filed against the people who were violating the law. He said the public gatherings amid the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic not only posed grave threat to the lives of people but also were a sheer violation of the court orders that imposed a ban on such activities. The minister said that the opposition also violated the government’s instructions and standard operating procedures (SOPS) formulated in light of the National Command and
Operation Center’s ( NCOC) recommendations.
The opposition parties with their political gatherings are damaging the economy, he said, adding the United States with a population of 320 million could not control even the coronavirus but Pakistan did well by successfully tackling the virus, keeping the economy moving and protecting the livelihoods of people.
Despite the overburdened healthcare system in Pakistan, the government had tackled the first wave of virus in a very effective manner by improving the public sector hospitals’ infrastructure and successfully implementing the SOPS, he added.
The minister appealed to the people to stay away from the opposition’s gatherings and follow the guidelines of NCOC, which were based on the experts’ recommendations and scientific studies.
He said that the government would not stop the public from participating in the upcoming political gathering of PDM in Lahore. However, action would be taken against those who instigated the people to violate the health guidelines.
Shibli said that the opposition’s activities were not favourable to the businesses and national progress at the time when the economy was on an upward trajectory, industry was being revived and the people were geting job opportunities. He said the opposition parties’ ‘blackmailing’ tactics cannot be allowed to derail the economy.