ISLAMABAD, Aug 12: The leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is keeping Nawaz Sharif's Independence Day schedule under wraps due to “security concerns”.

A number of party office-bearers said Mr Sharif planned to speak to the nation through electronic media, but said that they didn't know from where?

“Nawaz Sharif will speak to the nation at 5pm on Aug 14 either from the Quaid's mausoleum (Karachi) or Minar-i-Pakistan (Lahore),” PML-N's Information Secretary Senator Mushahidullah Khan said, adding a programme was yet to be finalised.

Talking to Dawn , the PML-N leader said the party had prepared a programme to mark the country's Independence Day and celebrations would start a day earlier with torch-lit rallies and illumination of shops, markets and houses all over the country.

Mr Khan admitted that it was because of “security reasons” that the programme was not being announced before time.

Party sources told Dawn that in recent party meetings most of the members were of the view that keeping in view the volatile situation in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, the party should arrange its main event at the Quaid's mausoleum because it would send a positive message to the nation, especially to the people of Sindh.

The sources said the party leadership had even given a go-ahead signal for preparation for the event, but later in another meeting the party members were told the government wanted them not to visit Karachi due to a “security threat”.

Sharmila Farooqui, a former adviser to Sindh chief minister, said the provincial government had not stopped Mr Sharif from visiting the province.

As far as the security threat was concerned, she said it was for everyone and not only for the PML-N leadership as the country was in a state of war.

Ms Farooqui said whenever Mr Sharif visited Karachi was given an official protocol of a former prime minister. She, however, said Mr Sharif did not trust the Sindh police and always brought his own security from Punjab.