CM Pervaiz Elahi still indecisive over launching crackdowns in Punjab

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi is still indecisive over launching crackdowns on Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) across Punjab in retaliation to the coalition government’s initiation of arrests of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders.

Sources told News360 that Punjab CM Pervaiz Elahi has been ordered by PTI chief Imran Khan to begin crackdowns on PML-N leaders across the province. They added that PTI central leader Fawad Chaudhry was also staying in the provincial capital Lahore to monitor the forthcoming crackdowns in Punjab.

It emerged that Punjab CM Pervaiz Elahi has also been facing pressure from the power matrix who called him to refrain from taking any action against the PML-N leaders or other ally parties of the incumbent government.

Sources said that the warning call from the power matrix put the Punjab government’s crackdown plan in the doldrums while CM Pervaiz Elahi was facing pressure from both sides.

PTI finalises strategy to counter ‘crackdown plan’ of Centre

In a recent statement to a private news channel, Pervaiz Elahi said that he was trying to run the Punjab government by maintaining a political balance.

He, however, hinted at taking action against the lawbreakers who had targeted political activists during demonstration rallies in an attempt to crush the anti-government movement in the Centre.

Two days ago, News360 reported that the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has planned ‘crackdowns on Pakistan League Nawaz (PML-N) leadership’ in the Punjab province.

Sources told News360 that the Punjab government led by PTI and its ally, Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) decided to launch large-scale crackdowns on PML-N leadership.

Sources added that the provincial government prepared lists of the PML-N leaders and government officials who had been found involved in targeting PTI leaders and workers at the March 25 Azadi March in Islamabad and other parts of the province.

Govt backtracks from ‘ECL threat’ to Imran Khan, PTI leaders

It was learnt that a committee has been formed to lead the crackdowns and arrests of the PML-N leaders are likely to be started at any moment.

Sources detailed that the provincial authorities have also planned to arrest PML-N central leaders including Rana Sanaullah, Attaullah Tarar, Malik Ahmed Khan and others. Moreover, the government also decided to expedite the legal action and arrests against the nominated persons in the Model Town incident.

The PTI had finalised a strategy a few days ago to counter the ‘crackdown plan’ of the coalition government and decided to resist the Centre’s move to initiate large-scale arrests of the PTI leaders following the verdict of the prohibited funding case.

However, the latest development indicated that PTI and PML-Q will make the move first prior to the initiation of ‘crackdowns’ by the Centre.