RAWALPINDI: ‘President Asif Ali Zardari Sports Bicycle Rally’, organised in connection with Independence Day, arrived in the garrison city and its participants were welcomed at the memorial site of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto at Liaquat Bagh on Monday.

The eight cyclists began their journey from Kasur and their motto ‘Respect Independence’.

After a day’s rest, the cyclists will move toward Islamabad and expected to meet President Asif Ali Zardari. The bicycle rally of Pakistan People’s Party, under the patronage of the party’s central leader Chaudhry Manzoor Ahmed, started from Darbar BabaBulleh Shah in Kasur on Aug 7.

The cyclists also delivered speeches on love and peace during their sojourn at Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Jhelum and Gujar Khan.

“During our journey, we visited the cities, where we were received by people who appreciated us,” said Sabir Ali Kasuri, who is leading the rally.

However, he criticised the response of District Sports Officer of Rawalpindi who did not facilitate the cyclists and said that in all the districts, the sports officers welcomed and provided maximum facilities to the rally participants.

“We did not want anything from the sports department but the Rawalpindi sports department did not cooperate with the rally despite the clear directions of the Punjab Sports minister and bureaucracy,” he alleged.

He said that there was no political agenda of the cycle rally but to promote love and brotherhood in the country through sports activities.

Sabir Ali Kasuri added that the participants of the cycle rally will also participate in the Independence Day celebration in Islamabad on August 14. Earlier, in the morning, Pakistan People’s Party leader Khurram Parvez Raja and local leaders welcomed the rally.

Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2024