RAWALPINDI: Before the arrival of the ‘Azadi’ and ‘revolution’ marches, heavy rain lashed the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

More rains are expected in the next 24 hours but it is not clear whether the changing weather would create problems for the participants of the marches.

Like the weather of the Potohar region, the citizens were confused about the fate of the two marches. Conspiracy theories also continued doing the round about the result of the sit-ins of the PTI and PAT. The residents spent most of their time glued to the televisions.

“I don’t know about the future of the marches and the sit-ins. The PTI workers will go home with the assurance about the electoral reforms or to prepare themselves for the next elections” said Mohammad Akbar, 23, a resident of Chaklala Scheme-III.

He said he and his friends had come to join the PTI march but their parents were asking them to return home by night. He said that in view of his parents, there would be no change in the near future. “We are also not sure about any change.”

Sarmad Hussain, 29, a resident of Westridge-I, said that the people expected a change but he was not sure about the outcome of the sit-ins or the marches. He said that it was expected that the participants of the marches would stay in the city for some days.

In reply to a question about the future of the PTI march, he said it was unlikely that the government resign but the party workers would go back with at least some solid assurances.

Malik Usama, a 25-year-old supporter of the PTI from Lalazar, said that the rain would create problems for the participants of the rallies.

He said negotiations would be held with the government but he was not sure what would happen in the end. He said that the PTI promoted the street power and the government should accept the demands of the party. He said it was not clear which demands of the PTI would be accepted by the government and what would be the reaction of the party.

On the other hand, PAT workers were also unclear about their future plan. “We arrived here on the call of Dr Tahirul Qadri to change the system. We are not sure what would happen in case the government rejects the demands of the party,” said Muzaffar Hussain, a resident of Taxila.

He said that he was a schoolteacher and had come to Islamabad press the government to improve the system. “I will follow the directives of the party leadership. I am not sure about the fate of the march,” he said.

Mohammad Anwar, a resident of Misrial Road, said he was not sure whether the government would accept the demands of the organisers of the marches.

“It is not clear whether PAT will join the PTI or not. The PAT local chapter failed to make arrangements for a public meeting and I am not sure how it will handle the situation in the coming days. I will go back tomorrow if things remained unclear,” said Sajjad Raja, a resident of Kallar Syedan.

He said that mismanagement was seen on Faisal Avenue as the PAT failed even to install the sound system till 9pm. He said that there was confusion.

When contacted, PTI Punjab (north) president Sadaqat Abbasi said that the PTI workers and leaders would stage the sit-in till the acceptance of their demand about the resignation of the government.

“The future plan will be announced by Imran Khan and the workers would accept all the decisions in this regard,” he said.

To another question about PAT and PTI relations, he was also unaware about the future but said there was no need to include PAT in negotiations with the government.

On the other hand, PAT local information secretary Suhail Abbasi told Dawn that his party’s future plan would be announced by Dr Tahirul Qadri after observing the situation. “We have doubts about the PTI and the government relations.” He said the government was giving protocol to the PTI but treating the PAT workers as criminals.

Published in Dawn, August 16th, 2014