Not afraid of arrest: Maryam

PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz declared on Sunday that she was not afraid of arrest. She said she and her party leaders are not scared of being sent to jail.

Talking to newsmen as she left Jati Umra for Lahore Airport en route to Karachi to attend PDM’s second power show in the evening, Maryam said the protest campaign against the PTI government is entering a decisive phase. 
When asked about the prime minister’s decision not to issue production orders for the lawmakers, the PML-N vice-president maintained that those who think that VIP protocols are being given to the political leaders in jails are wrong.

While responding to a question about Imran Khan’s dubbing the Gujranwala rally a circus, Maryam Nawaz hit back at the prime minister, saying "It was a speech of a defeated person. Mian Nawaz Sharif did not even address the prime minister; he had said this 'game' is above you (Imran Khan) and you should stay out of it."

The PML-N vice-president said, "The government is unable to see things right now, but it will all be clearer to them in a few days."

Earlier, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said that Imran Khan’s political makeup has vanished totally and his real face a Musharraf (hidden in him) has come to the fore.

  In a statement, Marriyum Aurangzeb said the two children Imran Khan talked about in his speech (Maryam Nawaz and Bilawal Bhutto) had put him at his wit's end (Naani yaad kara di).

The PML-N spokesperson said Imran Sahib’s speech was really pitiable. It was crystal clear from his speech that somebody had got over his nerves, she added.

On the other hand, Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) is all set to hold their second power show in Karachi Sunday evening. The event will be hosted by PPP, which is in power in Sindh.

A 160 feet long and 60 feet wide stage has been erected at Karachi’s Jinnah Bagh, the ground next to Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum, while over 50,000 chairs have also been arranged to facilitate the participants.

Maryam Nawaz will arrive in Karachi Sunday noon for the rally and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who is also the head of the PDM, arrived Saturday night.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah both visited the venue ahead of the rally to inspect the preparations. The PPP claims 100,000 people will attend the rally.

Over 4,000 policemen have been deputed for the security of the rally and the organisers have arranged 100,000 masks for participants. Seats have also been placed at a distance from each other to ensure social distancing.

Four gates have been set up at the venue—one for PDM leaders, one for women, one for political workers and one for the media. The federal government has issued a No Objection Certificate for the rally but warned that the permission could be revoked at any time for any reason. The rally has to finish before midnight.

Three stages have been set up—one for the main PDM leaders and two for senior leaders of opposition parties. Each stage is 160 feet long, 20 feet high and 50 feet wide. Barbed wire has been placed around the main stage where the PDM leaders will sit.

The PDM, which is comprised of 11 opposition parties, has vowed to stage rallies across the country to begin a movement against the government. Its first rally was in Gujranwala on October 16 which to be a mega-hit show.