September 10, 2007	Monday	Sha'aban 27, 1428

LAHORE, Sept 9: The expected buzz of activities like graffiti and banners on city walls and roads chanting ‘welcome statements’ by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for its leaders is nowhere. Local leaders claim that party’s “invisibility” is a deliberate act.

Leaders say that they have got sufficient material to “paint the city” and they did so, but the administration removed their banners. The police were also arresting anyone “painting the city”, they said.

“All these factors have forced the party to suspend its activities in the city for the time being and wait for the landing of its leaders before restarting it with full force,” says Khwaja Saad Rafiq.

All the banners were removed twice in the last two days and wall chalking white washed, said Mr Rafiq, member of the National Assembly from the PML-N. The party had sufficient posters and manpower to change the colour of the city once their leaders landed in the country, he claimed.

Police had arrested over 2,000 workers in the Punjab and over 200 in the city, he said, adding: “We cannot risk workers’ freedom at the moment and have asked them to leave for Islamabad individually and escape arrest.”

PML-N Lahore leader Khwaja Imran Nazir said, “Police have raided almost every party worker’s house, from where a rally can be taken out.

“My house was raided twice on Sunday. All workers and leaders have disappeared to avoid being sitting ducks for police arrest. They have been told to reach a designated point on Grand Trunk Road from where MNA Saad Rafiq will lead a rally to Islamabad. The party is saving as much workers as possible for a final showdown in Islamabad. Once the Sharifs land in the capital, the city workers will swing into action and festoon the city with welcoming banners, streamers and wall chalking.”

Sardar Zulfiqar Khosa, PML-N Punjab president, defending the “invisibility” decision said that the party could not risk arrest of its leaders at the last moment because they were the ones to coordinate the entire effort.

He claimed the government had pressured transporters through the Regional Transport Authority against provision of busses to workers. But, in spite of all these tactics, hundred of thousands of the people would throng the capital to welcome their leaders, he said.

“No one should take the invisibility factor as a lack of enthusiasm as such feelings will boomerang on Monday morning,” he said.

PML-N Parliamentary Leader in the Punjab Assembly Rana Sanaullah said the party was left with no choice but to remain invisible and direct all its energies towards Islamabad.

“All workers and leaders, who could mobilise others, could be arrested. Instead of 500 workers courting arrest, it will be better if 250 arrive in Islamabad. This principle is guiding the party.”