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All eyes are on Gujranwala as top opposition leaders — under the banner of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — arrive in the city for the first power show of their anti-government campaign.
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, who left for the rally from her residence at Jati Umra, Lahore, has reached the rally and is present on the stage.
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's convoy has also entered the limits of Gujranwala city and is expected to reach the venue shortly.
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Fazlur Rehman's convoy is still near Shahdara, outside Lahore.
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER AD
In a tweet after 8pm, Maryam said it had taken her motorcade six hours to exit Lahore. "Now rushing to Gujranwala. [Have] crossed Kamoki," she said.
"There is an ocean of people front, back, right & left. This is unprecedented," she earlier wrote, sharing pictures and videos of the supporters accompanying her convoy.
Bilawal energised his supporters through a brief talk during the journey at Wazirabad, saying the opposition parties will jointly work to rid the people of "this oppressive ruler".
He said the opposition had taken to streets against "historic" unemployment, inflation and poverty.
Hundreds of supporters and workers had started gathering at the Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala, in the afternoon after arriving from different cities in the form of rallies. They are chanting slogans and waving flags of the various opposition parties that are part of the PDM alliance, as opposition anthems are played on loudspeakers.
Participants await the arrival of PDM leaders. — DawnNewsTV
A number of politicians, including PML-N's Marriyum Aurangzeb, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Khawaja Asif, Khurram Dastagir and veteran politician Javed Hashmi, are already present at the venue.
Aurangzeb, Hashmi, Dastagir and Latif Khosa are among the politicians who have so far addressed the crowd.
Contrary to the guidelines issued by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) for public gatherings in view of the coronavirus pandemic, there is next to no social distancing and most participants are not wearing masks.
The stadium has a capacity of 35,000. Nearly 10,000 seats have been arranged in the ground, while some 25,000 people can be accommodated in the various enclosures at the stadium.
She urged the people of Gujranwala to join the rally and asked law-enforcement agencies, police and the administration "not to come in the way of the people".
In a tweet, Maryam said she was embarking on this "mission as Nawaz's foot soldier".
"I have dedicated myself to your struggle, your mission for Pakistan and its people. May Allah be with us and may we return triumphant and victorious. Pakistan Zindabad," she said while addressing the PML-N supremo who is also expected to address the rally.
"Hopefully they will learn a lesson from this failure and adopt the correct path," he said in a tweet.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill announced through a tweet that the government will provide drinking water, masks and hand sanitisers to the participants of the Gujranwala rally.
"Innocent people are being used in the effort to protect family corruption," he alleged.
Speaking to the media in Lahore before his departure to the venue, the JUI-F chief said: "We don't have personal enmity with anyone. But it should be specified that Pakistan belongs to Pakistanis. It does not belong to Western entities.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman leads prayers during their journey to Gujranwala. — DawnNewsTV
"Pakistan did not come into power to be ruled by the global establishment.
"The opposition [...] is committed and there should be no impression that any of the parties are waiting for an agreement. All [parties] are committed and are united in restoring [the sanctity] of the people's vote."
Rehman added that the only legislation done during the past two years of the PTI government has been under the Financial Action Task Force's conditions. "The parliament's sovereignty is not considered [...] and the purpose of the law mentioned on the bill clearly states that legislation is being done under the FATF's conditions.
A view of the stage set up at the rally. — DawnNewsTV
"If we do this, then our parliament is negating its own sovereignty." He added that the parliament was not the people's and had been brought under by the global establishment and was legislating according to its own agenda.
"To defeat such governance, all of the country's opposition parties are under one forum and will address the nation as one," he said.
PPP Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari. — DawnNewsTV
Bilawal said that despite the government's best efforts it could not address pressing issues such as hunger and unemployment. "The whole country will see the rally in Gujranwala. The time for the selected prime minister to go is now here."
He also warned of pre-poll rigging in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections, adding that he will monitor the process. "If there is rigging, we will launch a protest from GB to Islamabad."
Commenting on the convening of sessions of both houses of parliament, Bilawal called the government's move a "joke".
To this i will say only what i wrote over on PDF''
She has alot of similarities with Cersei Lannister of the books aka a bad ruler that wishes to be worshipped and makes bad and rash decisions so it is not at all surprising that for her it was a great moment of worship. She is very much responsible for the position her political party finds itself in and is very much responsible for the rift in the party as well. This is not smart play and while her twitter bots and paid journalist will twist her into the greatest female leader in history however she is simply not capable, smart and to ego-centric. No matter how much they try to hide it, it is beyond a doubt, dynastic politics that is fighting to survive.
My interest is ofcourse how there are already two narratives being formed and this is exactly what will happen as it happened in 2017 and 2018 where pro N journalists were pointing as to how the country is changing and people are on streets and how the establishment is scared and confused and all that and pro-Pti journalists will call it as the biggest flop show in history and nobody will be able to discern the truth of the matter. Images will be used by both sides to prove their point and the country will be engulfed into protests formed by workers and paid people and the People of Pakistani will be left to suffer.
Putting aside the game of narratives, the question of this movement must be brought to rise as well. How can parties that are undemocratic in nature fight for right of vote? how can parties which supported dictators declare themselves guardians of democracy? How can parties which declare the system in Pakistan defunct fight to protect that very system? How can parties which declare themselves loyal to extremism fight for the liberal principles of democracy?
This contradiction casts a large shadow on the movement itself and putting aside PTI and Establishment, this movement is not to provide right of vote nor democracy in Pakistan. It is simply to fight for power and to show that that they are not dead but very much alive and should be brought into some form of agreement because if this was for democracy then they wouldnt be gathering in gujranwala but in their constituency, telling the people of Pakistan the virtues of vote and democracy and promise them that they will be saved from their landlords who control their constituencies, from their sardars, maliks, chaudharies, all of them, that they would support absolute democracy and give the people absolute awareness on the right of vote and value of vote. What lesson is there in getting thousands of your workers across 11 parties to gather in gujranwala? how will that increase the democratic nature of the country? It will help them gain power and importance but that is what this movement is about. The parties are themselves not democratic. They themselves need to learn about democracy within their own rank. LEt them stand and claim that not a single non-merit seat will be given to the parliamentarians to increase their holding. That the SHO, whose seat is given as a gift to the MNA/MPA to be awarded at will to his loyalists, will not be done. That the country will be absolutely democratic based on the liberal principles of democracy and they would start from their own party.
This show is merely an attempt to deceive the people of Pakistan, the very people that have suffered under such a conscious cycle of exploitation that they are suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, thinking that these parties or institutions will provide some relief but they will not. They are all part of that wheel and we are literally seeing the elements of the wheel fighting amongst itself but nobody would endanger the wheel. The cycle stands secure and as long as that is secure, the country will remain enslaved. Faces change but the crushing remains the same. They will mention all as enemies, from Israel to Bajwa but will never mention the conscious exploitation of the people of the country.I see this as nothing more than the continuation of the same. Even if by some miracle they bring down the government and come into power, would things change? NO. Change cannot be driven from elements that are home to the conscious systematic exploitation. Can you drive change when you are part of that very wheel? You cannot. You can fight for better position in the system but can never change it. They cannot provide the relief the people of Pakistan deserve. Faces changing and fighting amongst themselves while the kingmakers laugh and remain certain of their power. No matter who rules, they always rule. If any one of them simply used the world LAND REFORMS or RELIGIOUS REFORMS and i will declare that they are sincere but they wont. They wont because the wheel of exploitation is built on such and nobody can dare to touch it. It seems we are fated to be crushed no matter who is in power or who fights. You know what is truly irking me right now is that those intellectuals who should be well aware of this system of exploitation, are looking the other way and rather than declare the true enemy are doing nothing of sort and are supporting them simply because they give hints on army role and ask for it to be removed. This is absolutely wrong and frankly foolish and shows that they are consumed by their own grudges. They claim to be well-wishers and desirous of change but are supporting elements that will not do any of such sort. They will cement this exploitation. When these intellectual fail to see the bigger picture, it highlights how bad the situation in the country is. The people of Pakistan deserve better than this and they deserve true change. You know Imran had that opportunity if he simply continued that path and not made the compromises he did for power. He could have driven proper change and could have done something amazing but could have, would have, should have hold no value anymore., Pakistan needs proper change and that can only come from internal change. The Prophets have shown that true change can only happen when society changes internally
PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, who left for the rally from her residence at Jati Umra, Lahore, has reached the rally and is present on the stage.
PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's convoy has also entered the limits of Gujranwala city and is expected to reach the venue shortly.
Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam chief Fazlur Rehman's convoy is still near Shahdara, outside Lahore.
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER AD
In a tweet after 8pm, Maryam said it had taken her motorcade six hours to exit Lahore. "Now rushing to Gujranwala. [Have] crossed Kamoki," she said.
"There is an ocean of people front, back, right & left. This is unprecedented," she earlier wrote, sharing pictures and videos of the supporters accompanying her convoy.
Bilawal energised his supporters through a brief talk during the journey at Wazirabad, saying the opposition parties will jointly work to rid the people of "this oppressive ruler".
He said the opposition had taken to streets against "historic" unemployment, inflation and poverty.
Hundreds of supporters and workers had started gathering at the Jinnah Stadium, Gujranwala, in the afternoon after arriving from different cities in the form of rallies. They are chanting slogans and waving flags of the various opposition parties that are part of the PDM alliance, as opposition anthems are played on loudspeakers.
Participants await the arrival of PDM leaders. — DawnNewsTV
A number of politicians, including PML-N's Marriyum Aurangzeb, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Khawaja Asif, Khurram Dastagir and veteran politician Javed Hashmi, are already present at the venue.
Aurangzeb, Hashmi, Dastagir and Latif Khosa are among the politicians who have so far addressed the crowd.
Contrary to the guidelines issued by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) for public gatherings in view of the coronavirus pandemic, there is next to no social distancing and most participants are not wearing masks.
The stadium has a capacity of 35,000. Nearly 10,000 seats have been arranged in the ground, while some 25,000 people can be accommodated in the various enclosures at the stadium.
Maryam departs as 'Nawaz's foot soldier'
While addressing supporters before her departure, Maryam said the opposition has "come out for the rights of the 220 million people" and for the livelihoods of the poor, traders and labourers of Pakistan.She urged the people of Gujranwala to join the rally and asked law-enforcement agencies, police and the administration "not to come in the way of the people".
In a tweet, Maryam said she was embarking on this "mission as Nawaz's foot soldier".
"I have dedicated myself to your struggle, your mission for Pakistan and its people. May Allah be with us and may we return triumphant and victorious. Pakistan Zindabad," she said while addressing the PML-N supremo who is also expected to address the rally.
'Opposition deliberately delayed departure'
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry claimed that the opposition leaders had deliberately "left their homes late" in anticipation of a low turnout of supporters."Hopefully they will learn a lesson from this failure and adopt the correct path," he said in a tweet.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill announced through a tweet that the government will provide drinking water, masks and hand sanitisers to the participants of the Gujranwala rally.
"Innocent people are being used in the effort to protect family corruption," he alleged.
Opposition will restore sanctity of vote: Fazl
JUI-F chief and PDM President Maulana Fazlur Rehman said the opposition was committed to restoring the sanctity of the people's vote.Speaking to the media in Lahore before his departure to the venue, the JUI-F chief said: "We don't have personal enmity with anyone. But it should be specified that Pakistan belongs to Pakistanis. It does not belong to Western entities.
JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman leads prayers during their journey to Gujranwala. — DawnNewsTV
"Pakistan did not come into power to be ruled by the global establishment.
"The opposition [...] is committed and there should be no impression that any of the parties are waiting for an agreement. All [parties] are committed and are united in restoring [the sanctity] of the people's vote."
Rehman added that the only legislation done during the past two years of the PTI government has been under the Financial Action Task Force's conditions. "The parliament's sovereignty is not considered [...] and the purpose of the law mentioned on the bill clearly states that legislation is being done under the FATF's conditions.
A view of the stage set up at the rally. — DawnNewsTV
"If we do this, then our parliament is negating its own sovereignty." He added that the parliament was not the people's and had been brought under by the global establishment and was legislating according to its own agenda.
"To defeat such governance, all of the country's opposition parties are under one forum and will address the nation as one," he said.
Time for PM Imran to go, says Bilawal
Meanwhile, PPP Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari said that the current government's anxiety was before the nation. "Our workers are being harassed, FIRs are being lodged and leaders' houses are being besieged," he said while speaking to the media in Lala Musa, from where he was meant to lead a convoy to the venue in Gujranwala.
PPP Chairman Bilawal-Bhutto Zardari. — DawnNewsTV
Bilawal said that despite the government's best efforts it could not address pressing issues such as hunger and unemployment. "The whole country will see the rally in Gujranwala. The time for the selected prime minister to go is now here."
He also warned of pre-poll rigging in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections, adding that he will monitor the process. "If there is rigging, we will launch a protest from GB to Islamabad."
Commenting on the convening of sessions of both houses of parliament, Bilawal called the government's move a "joke".
Nawaz accuses security establishment of orchestrating his ouster, bringing Imran to power
He was addressing PDM's first anti-govt power show in Gujranwala.
www.dawn.com
To this i will say only what i wrote over on PDF''
She has alot of similarities with Cersei Lannister of the books aka a bad ruler that wishes to be worshipped and makes bad and rash decisions so it is not at all surprising that for her it was a great moment of worship. She is very much responsible for the position her political party finds itself in and is very much responsible for the rift in the party as well. This is not smart play and while her twitter bots and paid journalist will twist her into the greatest female leader in history however she is simply not capable, smart and to ego-centric. No matter how much they try to hide it, it is beyond a doubt, dynastic politics that is fighting to survive.
My interest is ofcourse how there are already two narratives being formed and this is exactly what will happen as it happened in 2017 and 2018 where pro N journalists were pointing as to how the country is changing and people are on streets and how the establishment is scared and confused and all that and pro-Pti journalists will call it as the biggest flop show in history and nobody will be able to discern the truth of the matter. Images will be used by both sides to prove their point and the country will be engulfed into protests formed by workers and paid people and the People of Pakistani will be left to suffer.
Putting aside the game of narratives, the question of this movement must be brought to rise as well. How can parties that are undemocratic in nature fight for right of vote? how can parties which supported dictators declare themselves guardians of democracy? How can parties which declare the system in Pakistan defunct fight to protect that very system? How can parties which declare themselves loyal to extremism fight for the liberal principles of democracy?
This contradiction casts a large shadow on the movement itself and putting aside PTI and Establishment, this movement is not to provide right of vote nor democracy in Pakistan. It is simply to fight for power and to show that that they are not dead but very much alive and should be brought into some form of agreement because if this was for democracy then they wouldnt be gathering in gujranwala but in their constituency, telling the people of Pakistan the virtues of vote and democracy and promise them that they will be saved from their landlords who control their constituencies, from their sardars, maliks, chaudharies, all of them, that they would support absolute democracy and give the people absolute awareness on the right of vote and value of vote. What lesson is there in getting thousands of your workers across 11 parties to gather in gujranwala? how will that increase the democratic nature of the country? It will help them gain power and importance but that is what this movement is about. The parties are themselves not democratic. They themselves need to learn about democracy within their own rank. LEt them stand and claim that not a single non-merit seat will be given to the parliamentarians to increase their holding. That the SHO, whose seat is given as a gift to the MNA/MPA to be awarded at will to his loyalists, will not be done. That the country will be absolutely democratic based on the liberal principles of democracy and they would start from their own party.
This show is merely an attempt to deceive the people of Pakistan, the very people that have suffered under such a conscious cycle of exploitation that they are suffering from Stockholm Syndrome, thinking that these parties or institutions will provide some relief but they will not. They are all part of that wheel and we are literally seeing the elements of the wheel fighting amongst itself but nobody would endanger the wheel. The cycle stands secure and as long as that is secure, the country will remain enslaved. Faces change but the crushing remains the same. They will mention all as enemies, from Israel to Bajwa but will never mention the conscious exploitation of the people of the country.I see this as nothing more than the continuation of the same. Even if by some miracle they bring down the government and come into power, would things change? NO. Change cannot be driven from elements that are home to the conscious systematic exploitation. Can you drive change when you are part of that very wheel? You cannot. You can fight for better position in the system but can never change it. They cannot provide the relief the people of Pakistan deserve. Faces changing and fighting amongst themselves while the kingmakers laugh and remain certain of their power. No matter who rules, they always rule. If any one of them simply used the world LAND REFORMS or RELIGIOUS REFORMS and i will declare that they are sincere but they wont. They wont because the wheel of exploitation is built on such and nobody can dare to touch it. It seems we are fated to be crushed no matter who is in power or who fights. You know what is truly irking me right now is that those intellectuals who should be well aware of this system of exploitation, are looking the other way and rather than declare the true enemy are doing nothing of sort and are supporting them simply because they give hints on army role and ask for it to be removed. This is absolutely wrong and frankly foolish and shows that they are consumed by their own grudges. They claim to be well-wishers and desirous of change but are supporting elements that will not do any of such sort. They will cement this exploitation. When these intellectual fail to see the bigger picture, it highlights how bad the situation in the country is. The people of Pakistan deserve better than this and they deserve true change. You know Imran had that opportunity if he simply continued that path and not made the compromises he did for power. He could have driven proper change and could have done something amazing but could have, would have, should have hold no value anymore., Pakistan needs proper change and that can only come from internal change. The Prophets have shown that true change can only happen when society changes internally
