On the second day of Nawaz Sharif's rally, the ousted prime minister's convoy suddenly sped up soon after leaving Rawalpindi on Thursday, creating confusion and fuelling speculations.

While some reported that Nawaz, unhappy with the thin crowds at Rawalpindi and outskirts, picked up speed to reach places where a greater number of party workers were awaiting to welcome him, others suggested that security threats forced Nawaz to move ahead of his rally.

A secret message?

BBC Urdu hinted that a secret message led to Nawaz moving much quicker than expected.

Citing a police personnel deployed with Nawaz, BBC Urdu claimed that certain unknown men came to Railway Minister Saad Rafique when he reached Rawalpindi's Kutchehry Chowk and accompanied him to an unknown place.

Upon his return, Rafique climbed into Sharif's vehicle, which sped soon after.

Did not want to disappoint people: Saad Rafique

However, senior anchorperson and journalist Mubashir Zaidi spoke to Rafique after the rally was suspended on Thursday and the PML-N leader denied any such activity.

He claimed that certain local leaders — including some members of assembly he chose not to name — were speaking ahead of the rally and he left only to convince them to step aside so the rally could move forward.

"We wanted to reach Jhelum and Dina at the given time so that the people are not disappointed which is why the convoy sped up," he said. "Although we could not reach at the prescribed time but were not as late today [Thursday]."