Festive mood in Pindi on Nawaz’s return
A view of the banners put up across the garrison city on the occasion of the arrival of former prime minister and PML-N chief Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. PHOTO: AGHA MAHROZ/EXPRESS
The Rawalpindi chapter of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has finalised the preparations to welcome party supremo Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on his return to his homeland.
The party has acquired dozens of commercial boards on rent in the garrison city to display the banners of Sharif’s arrival at important thoroughfares, including the Murree Road. Banners of Sharif's arrival have also been displayed on more than 300 pillars of the metro bus stations.
More than 100 luxury buses have also been booked for the convoy travelling from Rawalpindi to Lahore to welcome the party chief.
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All the buses will be boarded by party officials along with workers so that a maximum number of workers can be taken to Lahore. The leaders of PML-N Rawalpindi had claimed to decorate Rawalpindi like a bride on the occasion of Sharif's arrival.
Party sources said a convoy of 100 luxury buses from Rawalpindi, under the leadership of former senator Chaudhry Tanveer Khan and former MNA Hanif Abbasi, will leave Rawalpindi for Lahore on the morning of October 21 to welcome Sharif to Lahore.
The IGP Road, Islamabad has been chosen for the departure of the main convoy from Rawalpindi, where all the party officials and workers will converge.
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The sources said to take the maximum number of workers to Lahore, the party leaders have decided that they will also go to Lahore in buses so that more workers can sit in the buses whereas separate busses have been arranged for female workers.
On the other hand, Sharif's banners have been placed on all the billboards with pictures of Chaudhry Tanveer Khan, Hanif Abbasi, Sardar Naseem Khan and other party leaders.
According to sources, due to differences among the local leaders, a separate convoy headed by former candidates for National Assembly Sajjad Khan and Nasir Butt will leave for Lahore from Committee Chowk on October 21.
The party has also finalised arrangements for breakfast, lunch and dinner for all party workers on the day of Sharif’s arrival. All the leaders are trying to take as many workers and voters as possible from Rawalpindi to Lahore.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 20th, 2023.