LAHORE: As the PTI leaders on Wednesday brought out rallies from different parts of the city in the run-up to the party’s ‘historic public gathering’ at Minar-i-Pakistan on Thursday (today), the deputy commissioner cautioned the party leadership against going ahead with its programme because of “severe threat” and advised its chairman Imran Khan to address the rally virtually.

A symbolic resolution of ‘independence’ will be read out at the rally to raise the nation’s conscience to shun slavery.

The PTI’s main slogan for the ‘historic gathering’ would be that the nation would not allow any foreign power to dictate its policies in Pakistan, said former Punjab health minister and senior PTI leader Dr Yasmin Rashid while speaking to Dawn.

She said a huge stage had been set up at the Minar-i-Pakistan ground and former prime minister Imran Khan would address the historic gathering that would touch the magic number of one million.

She said the enthusiasm of youth, women and children was worth seeing even at the rallies brought out in the city on Tuesday and Wednesday, ahead of the “historic gathering”.

Dr Rashid claimed that people were standing by Imran Khan and his narrative of making Pakistan a sovereign state that could not be dictated by any foreign power.

PTI Punjab information secretary Mussarat Jamshed Cheema said the stage had been made ready and segregated female and families’ enclosures.

The PTI leaders and people thronged the venue of public meeting on Wednesday night for a ‘full dress rehearsal’ for the main show.

Meanwhile, the Lahore deputy commissioner has written a letter to PTI’s Punjab and Lahore leaders, stating that severe threat alerts had been received from security agencies, and suggested that Imran Khan address the public gathering virtually instead of making a physical appearance at Greater Iqbal Park on Thursday.

Mr Khan himself responded at a Twitter space that he would physically attend the ‘Lahore jalsa’ and address the nation. He also said a record crowed would attend the gathering.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2022