Public gathering: Aliabad brims with people to show support for Imran

PTI rally in a PPP stronghold shows people want change


Our Correspondent November 21, 2014

SUKKUR: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) rally in Larkana on Saturday has changed a lot of perceptions. For one, it has shown that it's not just the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) that can gather a large crowd in Larkana - anyone can. For another, the large turnout suggests that the party has a lot of support in the province.

Imran Khan and his party's supporters met at Aliabad, the hometown of PTI's Shafqat Hussain Unar, which is nearly 11 kilometres from Larkana to participate in the rally.

Although the rally was held in the city's suburbs, a considerable number of women were there to listen to Khan. People had come from different parts of Sindh and as far as Balochistan for a chance to see Khan at the jalsa.

Sources claimed that a large number of people came from cities and towns in upper Sindh, including Sukkur, Ghotki, Khairpur, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Kandhkot and Kambar-Shahdadkot.

A group of young people from Shikarpur told The Express Tribune that they were unhappy with the old system and wanted a change. "We are fed up with this system which denies the masses their basic rights," said Ghulam Shabir Kaghzi. "Since I was a child I have seen the PPP and Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) taking turns and making tall claims. Nothing has changed." He added that they supported Khan and what he stood for.

People from Sukkur left for Larkana early morning shouting slogan for a new Pakistan. They said that they had given the PPP and PML-N enough chances and nothing had changed.

Ghulam Ali, Moosa and Akbar said that they had not been provided with any vehicles or transport by the PTI. "We have hired vehicles to get us there," they said amid shouts of Go Nawaz Go. "Imran Khan looks committed and should be given a chance to serve the masses.

The venue

In Aliabad - 40 acres of land was provided for the rally, out of which 26 acres of land was left for parking and the remaining 14 acre was for the public. According to the rally organizers, they had 50,000 chairs in the ground and had divided it into three zones, red, green and yellow. The red zone was primarily for the party leadership and Rangers, while the green was meant for women and yellow for men. Around 1,500 policemen and 100 Rangers personnel were on duty at the venue. Around 21 walk through-gates had also been installed at the entrance.

The stage was prepared at Unar House. A ladder was used to climb up on stage from inside the house and to keep the crowd from getting up on stage. No containers were used for the stage. Besides the police and Rangers, a lot of party volunteers were also on security duty.

People were seen selling caps and stickers with PTI colours. Many people were also getting their face painting done. Many women were wearing a combination of red and green, while young men with PTI caps were dancing to the party's popular tunes.

Sources claim that the PTI held a successful rally in a place that was traditionally considered to be a stronghold of the PPP.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 22nd, 2014.

COMMENTS (1)

Bashir A Aziz | 9 years ago | Reply

Time for Nawaz and Zardari and their likes to go. Enough of these 2 corrupt leaders and their corrupt cronies who are looting Pakistan.

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