PPP Lahore president said party would proceed with its scheduled July 25 programme regardless of circumstances
LAHORE:
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is preparing for a political showdown with the Punjab government after its request to hold a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan remained pending for more than six weeks, prompting the party to warn of protests, sit-ins and other agitation in the PML-N’s erstwhile citadel if permission continues to be withheld.
Party leaders said a “complete wheel-jam”, ranging from highways to major arteries across Lahore, could be on the cards as part of a wider protest campaign as the government keeps its permission in cold storage.
They accused the Maryam Nawaz-led Punjab government of denying the PPP its constitutional and democratic right to hold a peaceful political gathering, adding that the party would announce its future course of action at a press conference on Wednesday.
A senior party leader said the government had kept the rally permission “in the cold storage” despite the passage of six weeks.
“Six weeks was enough time. Now we have had enough,” he said. He lamented that the party’s legal and democratic right to organise a peaceful political event had been denied by the Punjab government.
The leader said the party would outline its strategy during Wednesday’s press conference.
“Our core objective is to seek permission for a rally, and that’s it,” he said.
“If they arrest us during our drive to push the government for permission, then so be it,” he added.
“What would the headlines read? ‘Maryam Nawaz-led government arrests leaders of its alliance partner’,” he remarked.
According to a message circulated to the media, PPP Lahore submitted its application for the rally on June 8 and made several visits to the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, but permission was never granted.
The message stated: “PPP Lahore had informed the Punjab government that if the permission was not issued by 8:00 pm on 14 July 2026, the party would launch a peaceful democratic campaign against Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s refusal to grant permission and to secure its democratic right to hold the gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan. The campaign will include peaceful protests, sit-ins, marches, and other constitutional and democratic measures.”
“As the Punjab government failed to issue the permission within the stipulated time, Pakistan Peoples Party Lahore will announce its future course of action at an important press conference.”
PPP Lahore President Faisal Mir said the party would proceed with its scheduled July 25 programme regardless of the circumstances.
