Pakistan Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Asad Umar has threatened the opposition and media outlets of "serious beating" if they dare to walk to Islamabad in the "long march".

The News International quoted the minister as saying on Friday, “Don’t even think of coming here. And if you do you will be beaten black and blue.”

He also accused the media of being the “facilitator” of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), a multi-party opposition alliance.

On November 6, PML-N leader and the alliance's secretary-general Shahid Khaqan Abbasi issued a statement announcing the launch of protest rallies in all provincial capitals.
"A protest will be held in Karachi on November 13, followed by one in Quetta on November 17 and in Peshawar on November 20," Dawn quoted Abbasi as saying.

The last rally will be taken out in Lahore, from where the protesters will begin marching towards Islamabad.

According to the statement, "This movement will end only after sending [Prime Minister] Imran Khan packing. This is a movement to rid [the country] of Imran Khan," UNI news agency said. 

"[Spiralling] inflation, the National Accountability Ordinance, the so-called electoral reforms ... among other issues came under discussion," Abbasi, a former prime minister, said.

According to Dawn report,  the PDM demanded that the increase in the prices of electricity, gas, petrol and other commodities be reversed.

"The actual reason behind inflation is the historic corruption by Imran Khan's government," the statement said. "The nation is unwilling to bear this government even for a minute, which has inflicted back-breaking inflation on the people," Abbasi declared.(SAM)