Police, PDM workers ‘play hide and seek’ a day before Lahore rally

Protesting workers of the opposition political parties continued to play hide and seek with the raiding police teams in Lahore on Saturday, a day before the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) was going to organise an anti-government gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan. 

As allies of the PDM, an alliance of 11 opposition political parties currently trying to topple the federal government led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of Prime Minister Imran Khan, are a gearing up for the Sunday (December 13) public meeting, a midnight police raid is feared to nab the most active workers and local leaders. 

Keeping in view the current situation, several opposition workers and leaders have gone underground to escape arrests and ensure their presence at Sunday’s public meeting. 

At least 41 criminal cases have been registered against the workers and leaders of the protesting opposition parties and dozens of anti-government activists have been arrested since December 5. These cases were registered in Lahore’s Sherakot, Misri Shah, Shadbagh, Nawab Town, Ghaziabad, Faisal Town, Green Town, Lohari Gate and Gowalmandi police stations. 

According to sources, the opposition political parties are holding the Lahore public meeting without permission, therefore, more criminal cases and arrests are expected in the coming days.