News Analysis |
Show cause notice has been issued to Pakistan People Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on the violation of code of conduct in Lyari.
The people of Lyari always supported my mother Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and I know they will support me too.
The showcase notice issued by the Deputy Commissioner South stated that the rally staged by PPP in Lyari on 01 July was not in the knowledge of the District and Police Management.
According to the text of the notice, the information and permission for holding rally is required to be obtained 3 days before appointed time of rally.
Read more: Bilawal calls for minimizing judicial activism in Pakistan
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has been directed to submit his reply by 5th July. It is further stated in notice that serious action will be taken if the reply is not submitted.
The rally led by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari passed through NA-246 Lyari constituency on 01 July when the residents of Bihar colony began pelting stones and chanting anti-PPP slogans forcing Bilawal to redirect his course. Slogans of “Go Bilawal Go” were chanted and PPP workers remained unsuccessful in appeasing the protestors. Billawal’s convoy had to be re-routed.
PPP spokesperson Senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar said opposing political elements that always resorted to violence tried to stop the rally, but they failed. “We ask the local administration, police and Rangers to play a positive role and demand of the election commission to take notice of the situation created by PPP’s political rivals,” said Khokar.
Bilawal had addressed the rally attempting to garner support by reminding the crowd, “This is the first election and I am contesting from Lyari. The people of Lyari always supported my mother Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and I know they will support me too. I intend to complete my mother’s mission,” Bilawal asserted from the roof of his vehicle.
The police had registered a case against 13 local and more than 400 unidentified persons while the case is registered under the Section 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapons), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 268(public nuisance), 341 punishment for wrongful restraint), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees) of the Pakistan Penal Code read with Section 7 of the Anti-terrorism Act, 1997.
But the show cause notice is a reminder, that PPP must acknowledge their fault in the incident, and unauthorized rally’s will not be tolerated.