RAWALPINDI: A day after the Supreme Court of Pakistan disqualified Nawaz Sharif as the prime minister, the garrison city, where most of the MNAs, MPAs and even the local government members belong to the ruling PML-N, saw a big rally in support of the ruling party chief on Saturday.

More than 3,000 charged workers and supporters of the party held the rally on Murree Road which was led by Mayor of Rawalpindi Sardar Nasim.

Former MNAs Malik Shakil Ahmed Awan, Hanif Abbasi, MNA Tahira Aurangzeb, MPAs Malik Iftikhar Ahmed, Zaibun Nisa Awan, Lubna Rehan Pirzada, Tehsin Fawad, MSF Punjab chapter General Secretary Maqbool Ahmad Khan, Yasir Butt, Javed Mughal, Shahid Ghafoor Paracha, Bilal alias Lali, Rahat Qudoosi, Yasmin Tahir, Riffat Abbasi, Zahida Kazmi and Hamza Shahbaz Force Rawalpindi President Rashid Gulfaraz Abbasi attended the rally.

The participants were carrying party flags, placards, banners, portraits of Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, former Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Maryam Nawaz. They were chanting slogans in favour of their leaders and against PTI chairman Imran Khan and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed. Most of the participants were also chanting ‘Down with JIT’.

Party activists say they don’t accept Nawaz’s disqualification, will remain PML-N head

The rally started from Liaquat Bagh and culminated at Faizabad where the party leaders addressed the workers and pledged their full support to Nawaz Sharif. They said they would not accept the disqualification of Mr Sharif, adding he would remain the leader of the PML-N.

Earlier, the party workers and supporters gathered at Liaquat Bagh on the call of the mayor. Later, groups of people joined the rally at Committee Chowk, Waris Khan, Banni, Naz Cinema, Chandni Chowk, 6th Road and 7th Road.

The rally triggered a massive traffic jam on Murree Road creating hardships for the commuters. All the business centres, shopping malls, plazas and markets remained closed during the rally.

On the instructions of City Police Officer (CPO) Israr Ahmed Khan Abbasi, the police had made special security arrangements.

The local leaders of the PML-N told the participants at Faizabad that Nawaz Sharif would remain in the hearts of the people of Pakistan and nobody could oust him from the political scene. They said the former prime minister did a lot to bring a change in the lives of the poor.

Mayor Sardar Nasim said tens of hundreds of workers and people belonging to different walks of life poured onto the roads on a short notice to express their love and solidarity with Nawaz Sharif.

He said PTI leaders Imran Khan and Jahangir Tareen should pack their luggage as the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of Pakistan can disqualify them anytime.

“Sheikh Rashid should come to Murree Road and see with his own eyes how many lovers of the Sharifs have gathered here today,” he said.

“A petition has been pending with the Supreme Court for two years to declare that Sheikh Rashid is not Sadiq and Ameen since he concealed his assets, including a house worth Rs80 million and land in Fatehjang, from the ECP,” said Malik Shakil Awan.

He said he would approach the apex court against Sheikh Rashid on Monday.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2017