Rain fails to douse spirits of PTI, AML workers

Sheikh Rasheed sacrifices four goats for charity

RAWALPINDI: Intermittent rain failed to douse the enthusiasm of the workers of Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf and Awami Muslim League (AML) at the start for their public rally in Liaquat Bagh on Sunday night.

Police had taken strict security measures to ward any threat to life and property of the participants.

Unsatisdfied with the police arrangements, AML chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed sought divine protection by sacrificing four goats for charity with a prayer for safe conduct of the programme.

The workers of PTI and AML started reaching to Liaquat Bagh as early as 4pm. The rain started pouring down at 06:30pm as a good number of workers had turned up at the venue and stayed their despite the downpour.

The event managers had placed over 5,000 chairs at the park and about 300 exclusively for women.

Till evening, the PTI and AML supporters were waiting for the arrival of Sheikh Rasheed and Imran Khan at the park.

The city police officer had deployed about 700 policemen on security duty for the gathering. Walk through gates were installed at entry points and entrance was allowed from one point only where physical search and body-pat of every individual was also carried out.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 14^th, 2017.