PM to chair parliamentary parties meeting today as opposition gears for first rally in Gujranwala

Prime Minister Imran Khan will chair a meeting of the parliamentary party and coalition partners in Islamabad on Friday, the same day the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) will hold its first anti-government rally at Jinnah Stadium in Gujranwala.

The PM has summoned the meeting to brief the members about the government’s strategy to counter the opposition’s anti-government movement. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi along with other Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders will also address the meeting. The meeting will take place at the parliament house at 3 pm.

Meanwhile, PDM which comprises 11 parties including the PML-N, PPP and JUI-F, is set to hold its first rally in Gujranwala today. PDM president Maulana Fazl, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, PML-N vice-president and Maryam Nawaz will lead their respective party members to the stadium.

The opposition has accepted Information Minister Shibli Faraz's challenge to fill the stadium. Promising ‘big power show’, PML-N Senator Pervaiz Rashid asked Faraz if he would resign when the venue is full.

Ahead of the rally, Deputy Commissioner of Gujranwala Sohail Ashraf granted a no-objection certificate (NOC) to PDM. PDM leaders are only allowed to address the crowd in the stadium and no speeches are allowed against national security institutions or against the Constitution.

As per the agreement, all people who have been arrested in relation to the rally will also be released. No raids will be conducted either.