LAHORE: People from many parts of Punjab came to attend the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s public meeting at Minar-i-Pakistan on Sunday.

What is evident from the views this reporter came across during a visit to the venue is that the admirers of Imran Khan continue to believe in every word he utters and promise of change. Far from being worried or exhausted, most visitors showed their enthusiasm and enjoyed every bit of the electrifying atmosphere.

“Our slogan of Go Nawaz Go will bring results soon. Change can come only if we get rid of those coming into power again and again through sham elections,” said Ms Samina, who reached the venue along with her husband and two kids after travelling from Sahiwal.

She said she didn’t miss the media coverage of the PTI’s sit-in in Islamabad and strongly believed had the election commission held free and fair general elections in 2013, Imran would have been the prime minister.

Asked whether she considered PM Nawaz Sharif’s unwillingness to resign as the PTI failure, she said: “I am sure the PM will have to bow before tsunami of people.”

Muhammad Arshad, who had arrived along with his family from Faisalabad, said he was ready to even die for his leader. “You cannot imagine the love and affection we have for Imran Khan. Being an honest man, he will surely pull the country out of the quagmire in near future as next elections are not far away,” he said.

He resolved to be part of any PTI sit-in even if it’s held in North Waziristan.

Students Muhammad Imran, Fahad Sarwar, Waqas and Akhtar came there from Kasur. “Change may take some time to come but we are optimistic that the PM will go,” said Imran. Fahad said the day was not far when the country would be purged of corruption as their party would topple the PML-N government.

It is learnt that the government kept an eye on the size of the gathering and many senior officials continued to confirm about their juniors’ movement through telephone calls to keep them away from the rally. “My boss rang up and checked my presence. When he made sure that I am at my home, he disconnected the call,” an official said.

The city witnessed a huge rush of the PTI supporters who reached the venue in the form of groups and rallies from various parts of Lahore and other cities of Punjab. Major roads and arteries like Canal Road, Mall Road, Jail Road, Multan Road, Lower Mall and Ravi Road remained clogged for most part of the day.

At Bhati Chowk, the traffic on both sides of the road was blocked. The government also squeezed service of Metro buses from Gajjumata to MAO College and suspended it from Shahdra to MAO College. It also closed the newly-constructed Azadi intersection flyover to traffic.

Published in Dawn, September 29th , 2014