GUJRANWALA: Activists of the PML-N and the JUI-F staged separate rallies on Friday against the sit-ins of the PTI and the PAT in Islamabad and expressed their solidarity with the government.

The PML-N rally, led by PP-96 constituency president Rana Maqsood Ahmad, started from Sharipura locality and marched on Jinnah Road.

The PML-N workers burnt effigies of PTI and PAT chiefs and chanted slogans against them.

The protesters said they would foil every attempt of Imran and Dr Qadri to destabilise the country for their vested interests. They claimed that shows of both leaders in Islamabad had flopped.

Similarly, activists of JUI-F, led by Sahibzada Rehman, held a rally against the PTI and the PAT from Sheranwala Bagh and terminated at Aiminabad Gate after parading on GT Road.

Carrying banners and placards, they chanted slogan against leaders of both parties.

JUI-F leaders alleged that both the PTI and the PAT were staging a drama in Islamabad at the behest of the Zionist lobby to derail democracy.

They said Nawaz Sharif should not resign at any cost because he was an elected prime minister.

The PML-N youth wing, led by city president Walid Butt, also staged a rally which started from Trust Plaza and ended at the same place after marching on GT Road.

They expressed their solidarity with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and chanted slogans against PTI and PAT leaders.

Meanwhile, activists of the Markazi Jamiat Ahl-i-Hadith also staged a rally against the aggression of Israel and demanded of the United Nations to stop the cruelty.

The rally, headed by city president Prof Muhammad Saeed Kalairvi, started from Aiminabad Gate and terminated at Sheranwala Bagh.

They were carrying banners and placard inscribed with slogans against the US and Israel.

They also condemned the rulers of Muslim countries for playing the role of a silent spectator against the brutality of Israel.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2014