PML-N considers PTI rebels as ‘true warriors’

Presenting a somewhat skewed logic, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Punjab Chapter General Secretary Sardar Awais Laghari said that those who left their party after their government ended were the “turncoats”, whereas those leaving the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) now are the “true warriors”.

Speaking at a news conference in the provincial capital, Laghari gave details of the party’s march to Islamabad, seemingly to do away the impression that it was meant to go head-on with PTI workers.

The opposition parties had initially announced the long march to Islamabad on 23rd, moving the date later to 25th, however, after PTI announced its power show on 27th in the federal capital, they too announced their march on the same date.

Lagari said that their march will culminate in Rawalpindi on the 26th but if nothing is decided to defuse the air of confrontation, they will enter Islamabad. He did not explicitly say what the PML-N would do.

He said that this caravan was actually an anti-price hike march. He also condemned the government for not following the law and for not respecting country's constitution, stating that the government was trying to evade no-confidence motion, by illegally delaying the session.

Read: Experts say delaying no-trust vote may invoke Article 6

He also said that the sitting government is threatening parliamentarians, daring them to pass through their one million supporters on the day of voting, adding that government supporters even attacked government installations, referring to the attack on Sindh House.

He said that under the lead of Vice President Hamza Shehbaz and VP Maryam Nawaz, the caravan will leave from Lahore on 24th and will reach Rawalpindi on 26th, and if no instructions are given to them, they will end it there, however, if nothing is decided between the two sides to end any confrontation, the workers and leaders will enter Islamabad.

To a question about why opposition parties postponed their march, when it was adamant on organising it on 23rd, Laghari, alluding to the Pakistan Day parade, said that for them country comes first, changing the date for the country and pushing it forward by a few days does not make any difference.

Interestingly this is exactly what the government had argued before the joint opposition to not to coincide their march with the Defence Day parade, however, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Moulana Fazl Rehman was insistent on organising the march on the 23rd.

To a question about forming a committee for no-confidence motion in Punjab, he said that the news regarding this was false.

He said that VP Hamza was spearheading the preparation and holding meetings with leaders of the province via zoom calls.