ISLAMABAD: Soon after hearing that roadblocks between Rawalpindi and Islamabad were being removed at around 5:00pm, scores of enthusiastic supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) reached Faizabad, the rallying point for participants of the Azadi March.

Taking advantage of the excessively busy crossing point, Rawalpindi-resident Rehman Gul sneaked into the federal capital in his rickshaw along with seven other PTI supporters.

Making their way swiftly from Faizabad to the Kashmir Highway bridge at Zero Point, they joined a large number of PTI supporters, led by party leader Dr Israr Shah, who was a diehard People’s Party supporter until a few years ago.

With three passengers in the back, two in the front and two more perched on the roof, Gul told Dawn his friends had gone pale when they realised upon reaching Faizabad that rickshaws were not allowed into the capital. “In all, we are eight persons in one rickshaw,” he said. After a brief consultation in Pashto, he said, “We will see when we get there.”

But the atmosphere over the bridge was too festive for anyone to notice a lone rickshaw. A large contingent of PTI supporters had arrived from Peshawar soon after sunset and were greeted by local comrades.

“We have a whole procession waiting at Rashakai Interchange, more people are arriving tonight,” said Rahim as he pasted stickers and flags on his bike. By night, a caravan led by KP Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak had also reached Islamabad via the motorway.

The news of his arrival added to the enthusiasm of PTI workers and small groups of youngsters on motorcycles started moving around the city, especially on Islamabad Highway, playing national songs.

Meanwhile, from his wheelchair, Dr Israr Shah addressed party workers and asked them to refrain from any activities that would defame the party.

“Hoist flags on your vehicles and motorcycles and paste stickers on your body so that everybody can see that the PTI workers are here,” he said.

Not only the federal capital but also the Rawalpindi city bore a dull look the whole day with the residents remaining indoors possibly due to the fear of clashes between the law enforcement agencies and the PTI, PAT workers.

Despite the availability of CNG, there were a negligible number of customers at the filling stations and also thin traffic on the roads across the twin cities. Hardly a few thousand visitors came to parks, including Ayub Park.

Published in Dawn, August 15th, 2014