RAWALPINDI: Despite the weekend, the garrison city saw considerable political activity as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) workers and supporters poured on to streets and roads, with many crammed into buses and coasters that were leaving for Lahore to welcome their party’s supreme leader, Nawaz Sharif.

The former prime minister had touched down in Islamabad earlier in the day after remaining in self-imposed exile in London for four years.

Police and law enforcement agencies had increased the level of security as local PML-N leaders led processions from the city’s downtown areas.

A rally was brought out from the cantonment areas by former mayor and PML-N Metropolitan President Sardar Naseem, another was led by Hanif Abbasi on Murree Road, Daniyal Chaudhry led a procession from Chaklala, Sajjad Khan brought out a rally from Liaquat Bagh while Malik Abrar’s rally departed from Naseerabad. All these rallies then converged at Khayaban-i-Sir Syed’s main square near Karnal Sher Khan Road.

PML-N workers were seen distributing national and party flags as well as caps among youngsters on the way.

Party sources said union council chairmen had been told to bring 100 people each from their respective areas.This time around, the PML-N changed its strategy and focused on showing its strength from the city areas.

The local leaders also decided to go to Lahore on buses instead of cars. Some enthusiasts were seen doing one wheelie. Former MPA Sarfraz Afzal, who led a rally from Adiala, even stopped outside Adiala jail and raised slogans against PTI chairman Imran Khan.

Talking to Dawn, Sardar Naseem said they had decided to hire buses, instead of cars, to travel to Lahore. He said due to a large number of people wanting to attend the gathering at Minar-i-Pakistan, they had arranged 200 buses instead of 40 to 50 buses.

He said many people had reached the waiting point and wanted to go to Lahore, but they had to be turned away due to want of space.

Therefore, the remaining supporters and workers joined the rallies in their own cars as they did want to miss the chance to listen to their leader.

A large number of people had also come from other towns of Rawalpindi district.

“We came from Gujar Khan whereas around 300 others reached the garrison city from Kallar Syedan and Kahuta,” said Amjad Hussain.

Zafar Ahmed, a resident of Rawat, said he had not been informed by the party’s local chapter about the rally, adding that there was also no transport arrangement.

Published in Dawn, October 22th, 2023