Tsunami surges into Raiwind

PTI workers brave scorching heat to attend rally and raise voice against corruption


Women dance to music at Adda Plot hours before the PTI’s rally actually started with the arrival of Imran Khan. PHOTO: ABID NAWAZ/EXPRESS

LAHORE: At first, it looked nothing like a political rally. Participants brandishing selfie sticks took photos as many others painted each other’s faces and sipped tea and drinks at makeshift stalls. The sound of drumbeats resonated far and wide.

The sights and sounds at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Raiwind March gave the impression people had gathered for a festival rather than seek accountability from the ruling elite.

The rally turned into a carnival when participants started dancing to the beats of drums with their faces painted in colours of the party’s flag at Adda Plot. Even people with disabilities made their way from far-off areas to participate in the protest, some joining the cause from Peshawar and Sialkot.

Many youngsters from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and even the US, calling themselves Imran’s tigers, pitched in. The programme was not scheduled to start until dusk but many activists and enthusiasts had arrived hours earlier.

End to corruption

Most participants attended the rally to raise their voices against corruption.

“We just need [to put an end to] corruption,” said Amir Shaukat, a resident of Hyderabad who was seen painting faces of PTI supporters for between Rs20 and Rs30.

Waqar Ahmed, a Chakwal resident, reached the venue by 2:30pm. By late afternoon, the sizzling heat had made it unbearable for people to remain outdoors. But Waqar’s enthusiasm and dedication to Imran surpassed all other consideration and he was seen around the stage area for a long time. “If Imran Khan orders us to hold a sit-in here until Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif [gives in], we will do it,” he said

Clad in a black burqa, Ghazal Ihsaan, a resident of Mazang, was seen chewing paan and gutka. “I came here with my husband on a motorcycle,” she said. A housewife and mother of five, Ghazal knows little about politics. “But [I] want to abolish corruption as it is [destroying] our country,” she said. “We heard Imran on television and thought we should join his rally.”

Naseem Cheema, who was also part of this group, told The Express Tribune that she was settled in the US with four children and had come to Pakistan to attend the rally all by herself to raise voice against corruption. “Two of them are doctors and the other two engineers,” she said talking about her kids. “But they have not been able to get jobs in Pakistan. We had to shift to the US due to massive corruption in Pakistan.”

For the sake of change

Shamraiz Khan, a person with disabilities from Peshawar, said he was not worried about facing hurdles on his way to Adda Plot as he was looking forward to standing with the party chief.

Sufian from Sialkot said he was there for the sake of “change”. He added he wanted to tell people sitting inside their houses that he was a person with disabilities but was still present for the rally event.

“Imran Khan is talking for Pakistan, not to become the prime minister of the country which different television channels have been portraying.” Some of the young people were dancing to DJ Wali Sons’ song specially composed for the Raiwind march, while the youth from Peshawar performed the unique dance of their region – Attan.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1st, 2016.

COMMENTS (2)

stevenson | 7 years ago | Reply Pretty lame demonstration if you ask me. The comments of the participants, especially the woman who had to move to the US so her doctor, engineer kids could get jobs really takes the cake ! Who is she fooling ? Is this the level of education of Imran's followers that they are so deceptive. Building a nation takes work and patience - not childish dharna. Look at the border and the need for unity instead of Imran Khan's devil may care - all for PTI and who cares about Pakistan attitude. He has to stop his silliness and grow up.
Ravian | 7 years ago | Reply Now, pti is not even making headlines..........
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