ISLAMABAD: Deposed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s exit rally from Islamabad was taken as a challenge by the party. A large number of the party’s senior leaders including MNAs participated in the rally and those who did not see off their leader in Punjab House.

Many MNAs including Mian Abdul Manan went ahead of the rally to ensure proper arrangements and Minister for Railways Khawaja Saad Rafiq arrived at an I-8 camp on a motorcycle in order to address workers.

Rumours that former Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan will accompany Mr Sharif during the rally and that he will be driving the former premier’s car proved to be incorrect. The SUV in which Mr Sharif was travelling was driven by his driver and the MNA from Rawalpindi could not be seen in the rally.

Sources in the law enforcement agencies said the former interior minister was not even in the city and that he was possibly in Chakri, his native village. There was also no activity outside Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan’s house and there was not even water for party workers in the hot weather.

“I am surprised to see this in front of the house of our senior party leader and that the police did not allow us to establish a camp in front of the house,” said a party activist at a welcome camp established by workers of PML-N.

Adjacent to this camp was another established by local councillors, many of whom also said they were disappointed that they had not received any support from the senior party leader.

Published in Dawn, August 10th, 2017