September 09, 2007	Sunday	Sha'aban 26, 1428

LAHORE, Sept 8: The PML-N high command in London has asked party’s local leaders and activists to avoid being arrested and to scrap plans for setting up reception camps in order to ensure their presence at the Islamabad airport when former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and brother Shahbaz Sharif will land there on Monday.

PML-N Lahore chapter’s office-bearers said they had planned to set up 150 camps to welcome their leaders in the city. “The plan has not been shelved even after the new instructions,” they added.

On their arrival in Lahore, the exiled leaders would first visit the Data Darbar and then leave for their Raiwind residence via Railway Station, Allama Iqbal Road, Canal Bank Road and Raiwind Road, they said.

PML-N information secretary Khwaja Imran Nazir said it was a tentative route which had been designed to cover maximum city areas.

The activists have got prepared welcoming banners, hoardings, posters, T-shirts, party flags and stickers in thousands, but the city district government and town administrations are getting them removed immediately after these are displayed.

MPA Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman claimed that of the 600 banners, 70 had been removed by the administration. The leftover can be seen in small streets, he said. “The remaining hoardings, banners and other publicity material will be displayed on the arrival of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif,” he added.

PML-N office-bearers said the main procession from Lahore will leave for Islamabad on Monday morning. The caravan, comprising around 2,000 vehicles, will be led by PML-N Punjab president Sardar Zulfikar Khosa, foreign affairs coordinator Mohammad Mahdi and MNA Saad Rafiq.

The participants will be wearing white T-shirts with picture of Nawaz Sharif on the front and of Shahbaz Sharif and party’s flag on the back.

The party leaders alleged that many transporters backed out of their commitment after receiving threats from police. “Their hearts are with us but buses are with the rulers,” comments a party leader.