LAHORE: The PML-N senior leadership will hold another meeting with party President Shahbaz Sharif in the chair here on Saturday (today) to formulate a strategy regarding its participation in the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl’s (JUI-F) ‘Azadi March’ on Oct 31.

“After the announcement of Nawaz Sharif to join the march, the party is holding another huddle on Saturday (today) in Model Town to finalise a strategy,” PML-N Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb told Dawn here on Friday. “There remains no ambiguity over the PML-N’s participation in the JUI-F’s protest after Nawaz Sharif declared that the party supports it.”

She further said the PML-N had decided in principle to stand with the people of Pakistan and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman. “PML-N’s party meeting on Wednesday made some recommendations but the enemies of the party tried to propagate lies about the discussions.”

Talking to reporters outside the accountability court, Ms Aurangzeb requested the media to cover the march the same way it covered the “empty chairs during public meetings” of PTI in 2014. She said Nawaz Sharif was ready to brave more jail time, but would never compromise on the honour of the people. “Mian sahib prefers imprisonment over compromising people’s rights, respect for vote.”

She further said that “shallow-minded selected imposters” tried to demean Nawaz by arresting him again, but they had found out that respect of an individual was in the hands of God.

“For the past three years, [Chaudhry Sugar Mills] has been shut down to benefit Imran Khan’s ATM Jahangir Tareen. A new case has been created to keep the three-time premier in jail.”

Furthermore, Capt Safdar said that his father-in-law, Nawaz Sharif, had written a “comprehensive letter” to son Hussain about the Azadi March. “Mr Hussain will remain in contact with the masses through social media during the march,” he added.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2019