Lahore readies itself for Nawaz's 'homecoming' rally

Despite support from entire state machinery, the site picked by PML-N in Lahore shows fear of low turnout

LAHORE: Even though it has the support of the entire state machinery, the choice Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz made for the site in Lahore where ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif will make the final speech of his ‘homecoming’ tour reflects fear of low turnout within the party.

The point selected for the stage setup is a four-lane road a few hundred metres from the famed Daata Darbar, facing Azadi Bridge. The site is among the busiest thoroughfares of Lahore, packed all day long with people travelling in and out of the city or visiting the shrine of Daata Gunj Baksh.

The stage has been erected on the road between pillars of the overhead Metro Bus Bridge and the area has been blocked for pedestrians and road-crossers who live on the other side by the police for security reasons.



It is not possible to see the stage without being on the side of road facing the Azadi Bridge. The entire strength of the rally would have to stand on that four-lane road.

The selected stage site would, however, provide quite a spectacle for cameras. With vehicles of the motorcade parked on that road, media vans, police vans and thousands of policemen deputed for security and supporters of PML-N, the rally may stretch to quite a long distance.

If PML-N’s purpose was to show its strength in numbers, the ideal place to hold such a gathering in Lahore would’ve been the nearby Nasir Bagh, where Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief Tahirul Qadri recently held a procession.



Hours before the rally would reach Lahore, the stage was set with over a dozen truck-trailers decorated with pictures of Nawaz Sharif set up by the local PML-N leadership. Only police was visible on the road route. PML-N workers, around two dozen or so, where mostly congregated near the stages. Several thousands are expected to pour in before the motorcade reaches Lahore.

Only the stage set up, by MNA Haji Malik Riaz, was equipped with a bullet-proof podium. The remaining stages were apparently just there to provide a good visual, charge the crowd and show presence of local leadership to their leader Nawaz Sharif.

The entire route of the rally up to Daata Darbar has been decorated with banners, party flags, panaflexes and streamers.