MUZAFFARGARH: PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif’s visit to Layyah, scheduled for Saturday to address the public, was postponed by the party for undisclosed reasons.

All arrangements, managed by party ticket-holders and the administration, including a prepared stage with set-up containers, were completed. However PML-N district general secretary Zaffar Gujjar announced that Mr Sharif had postponed his visit and would announce another date soon.

Given the planned schedule of Maryam Nawaz, it is believed that PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif may visit the district.

Earlier, local party cadres were impatient to welcome their leader. PML-N candidates and supporters had claimed that Mr Sharif would be accorded a historic welcome, and thousands of people would attend the rally.

The PML-N looks in comfortable position after the party leadership pacified disgruntled leaders and convinced them to withdraw their candidatures in favour of party candidates.

PTI and PPP candidates claimed the PML-N rally had been postponed due to a lack of public interest and the possibility of failure.

While Mr Sharif postponed his arrival in Layyah, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is scheduled to address the people in a nearby district of Kot Addu on Saturday. Local candidates Raza Rabbani Khar and Asif Dasti claimed the sports ground would be full of PPP supporters on the following day, marking a significant event.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2024