PTI workers are racing away in preparation for the public rally at Minar-i-Pakistan on October 30. Tents have been fixed around four big plots where approximately forty thousand chairs are to be placed for the participants.
Zaheer Abbas Khokhar is heading the committee in charge of the arrangements for the rally.
Muhammad Asif, who works for Arif Sons, a catering company which is rendering services for the rally, told The Express Tribune that six Mazda trucks were transporting tents, chairs, generators and lighting for the rally.
“Our regular staff as well as 30 additional workers are busy in arranging and cleaning the chairs. Thirty thousand chairs have already been placed, while the remaining ten thousand will be placed soon. A day before the rally 300 KV sound proof generators will illuminate the rally grounds,” Asif said.
Lahore Tehrik-i-Insaaf president Mian Mahmoodur Rashid said they were expecting more than a hundred thousand people at the rally. He said, “Youth, corporate employees, women, trade unionists are all supporting us.” Yasir Gilani said they were expecting more than 65 different groups to come out in smaller rallies and head to the main event.
Khalid Imtiaz, a gardener employed by the Parks and Horticultural Authority who works at Minar-i-Pakistan, said he was unsure about PTI’s choice of venue. “PML N, the bigger party is holding its rally at a comparatively small place, Nasser Bagh. PTI is at Minar-i-Pakistan, to me it’s a big gamble,” he said.
Architect Mian Zahid is responsible for setting up the stage.
He said that only seven to eight people will sit on the stage, while another 150 will occupy the VIP enclosure. Between the crowd and the leaders on stage there will be a security patrol, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2011.
COMMENTS (59)
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boys and girls plz get out and support the change are u people not fed up with unemployment, energy crisis, terrorism, war, poverty, uneducation, and many more
@Raja Aslam: Your first question has been answered already. Answer to second question is that Imran Khan has invested his savings into various business ventures. Still from time to time, he has to act as a cricket commentator/analyst at various TV channels in order to meet his expenses. Btw, if I were you, I would not have bothered asking this question. The man who donated a lot of money to the Cancer Hospital is an honest man and his honest can credibility is praised even by his foes. But I hope my answer helped you :)
PTI is the only option for change .All the best Imran khan we are with you .
@bangash: Common, dont talk silly, Minare-Pakistan is famous for its political history and background, not for being a recreational spot. go and study history to know about its importance in the political history of Pakistan.
@Raja Islam: It is coming from the overseas Pakistani like us. There is a option on the PTI website to give 10 dollars per month to the party which is nothing when you are earning in a foriegn country (the minimum wage in Canada is 10 dollars/hour). You should really educate yourself before pointing fingers.
Where is all the funding coming from for this honest party for the masses of Pakistan? What is Imran Khan's source of income?
@ Ch. Allah Daad, I need a change towards the betterment of Pakistan and its people. whether you have bad or good feelings for Imran or Nawaz or PPP or MQM.
Pakistan is my home as well and does not "only" belong to PML-N, PPP, MQM, PML-Q or APML and their workers. I have a right to vote and vote who I see the most sincere, dignified and honest to take on the challenges and bring the country out of this mess.
Despite my continued liking for the Imran Khan, I no longer subscribe to that view because the lofty role of a saviour of Pakistan needs a person who has a clear vision and sagacity to deal with the following core questions. One, how will Pakistan repair the serious damage done to its international image because of its entanglement with militant jihadi outfits? Two, and related with the first one is how will Pakistan improve economic growth by increasing its trade with the regional and other major trading nations? Three, how will the rule of law, accountability and transparency be promoted? Four, how will institution building be promoted in place of a personality cult? Five, how will the marginalised sections of society such as religious minorities, women, disabled persons, and economically deprived communities be empowered? Six, how will the demon of radicalisation and intolerance be exorcised? And seven, how will the civil-military relations be rationalised so that the civilian government is able to take full control of domestic and foreign policies? It is obvious that Imran Khan is using the old tactics of maligning and mudslinging to garners his vote bank. His wisdom to resolve all these issues falls too short to meet the challenges. He is banking on tirade against ruling junta and I am sure all the above issues can not be tackled by captain Sahib. For this we need a visionary leadership like PPP.
Chalo Chalo Minar e Pakistan Chalo 30th oct is the historic day of Pakistan Inshallah . Imran Khan Zindabad ....chalo chalo Minar e Pakistan chalo.
Vote for PTI...
I wish Imran Khan all success. I will Pakistan be an economically strong country like Turkey and only honest leader can make it happen.
@TightDhoti: Its rather called 'being civil' :) , The day is not far, where general public of Pakistan would have access to comforts. Inshallah.
First of all, in 1940 when there was a Jalsa by Quaid-e-Azam, it was at Minar-e-Pakistan and for the betterment of Muslims under a political party. Therefore IK and PTI have the same ideology of Quaid-e-Azam's Pakistan under the same venue..its like reviving the importance of history and what is missing in our political parties.
Secondly, IK and PTI have been working for the welfare of Pakistan for many years. Opening schools, sending out computers, opening small health clinics, installing water pumps, they seem small to you but people in PTI contribute money from their own income, so its a big deal.
Thirdly, IK and PTI has been in every part of Pakistan. His stance and ideology has been same since the beginning therefore his credibility is not questionable. the proof is media and their programs. people and youth will come out because they have a direction now..a direction that is correct and islamic as well.
As far as VIP enclosure is concerned, that is for party management. security is of utmost importance and this is a step aimed towards better management of such a huge crowd InshaAllah. It does not mean there is a class system. IK and PTI sleep with people as we have seen in Islamabad & Peshawar Jalsas. & every one who critisizes that jalsas are not going to do anything, well you need to see who has been ruling you and are we going to survive the next 5 years under same government!!!!
The change is here..whether you like or not and InshaAllah its the change towards a Democratic and Islamic state. Go PTI and Allah IK ko aur hiimat de.
I am a big supporter of Imran Khan and I can say this because I follow PTI's blog and Kaptaan on various TV channels everyday and all the time but I must admit the way people react to any news related to him here is EXTREMELY OFF-PUTTING!
Trust me guys you are all a bunch of passionate (read: sentimental) juveniles! Please show some maturity and unexaggerated support.No wonder you have made others here coin the most pertinent term for you: PTI Trolls!
@Imran: Leaders are not manufactured, so to say Imran has not been to able make one impressive leader like person is utter non sense. Leaders claim their place, take the example of history. Quaid-e-Azam was leader by in born qualities. Leaders are only made in the form of Q-league. And in front of Imran Khan, the big names just vanish since he is too big to be overtaken. If you have heart come forward and do to prove that you are a different instead of asking Imran Khan to create leaders for you
INSHA ALLAH , The JALSA at Minar-e-PAkistan WiLL show the real Strength of PAkistan Tehreek-e-insaf to the curropt politians . . .. CHange is on the way , . . !!!!
This is the beauty of Democracy, One must praise President Zardari for letting all this happen!!
Chairs are there because PTI is not bringing paid loaded truck of Labours etc. Respectable people of all ages will be there. PTI cares them.
Facebooking and blogging won't get a revolution in Pakistan, Imran Khan and PTI needs us on the ground to topple the corrupt and status-quo. So all cyber kids, join PTI on the 30th.
After Ali Azmat's "out of this world" speech on a PTI stage, I am seriously considering quitting PTI. The future young leaders cant be delusional super cool 'rock n rollers' who have no idea about what they are saying. Specially when we are all well aware of their own "lifestyle". Very disappointing to see that Imran Khan has not been able to bring a single impressive leader-like person on his platform. I want change, but this doesnt work either.
Imran Khan, your tigers will bleed every drop of blood for you. It is time to pay you back for all the efforts and services you have rendered for Pakistan. GO PTI go.
I am loving it how the Anti imran brigade has an issue with everything from the chairs to the location to having seprate enclosures for the leadership but all the haters cant stop PTI anymore Lahore here i come Pakistan Zindabaaad!!!!!!!
please come out on 30th and vote for PTI imran, he is only politician we can count amongst the lot.
Khan relies a lot, in fact a hell lot, on the youth of the nation. It really saddens me because of the fact that the younger generation, although, it thoroughly supports IK's vision but most of them would just be sitting dummies during the election coz THEY HAVNT EVEN REGISTERED THEIR VOTES!!!
PTI is the future of the country with Imran as its leader. The convention of PTI on 3oth Oct 2011 will be a success, and I am sure about it.
A chance should be given to imran khan. Even your one vote can make the differece.
@Nayab Hayat, it is not our problem if you fail to notice the burgeoning support and count of PTI all over Pakistan and especially in Lahore. :) People love Imran Khan and the best you can do is to witness all this without whining or making false political claims.
Chair strategy is expensive but it spreads the people into vast ground thus the OBJECTIVE of covering large ground is ACHIEVED!
If you don't use chairs that people would be congested and PTI might not be able to FILL UP the ground, all eyes are on how large the crowd would be!
Look at arrangements for jalsa in context of OWS revolution of under-previleged. You will notice world of diference. This hype about IK is just a delution which will wiped away soon!
Go Guys Go....This is time to shatter the confidence of negative forces...Go guys Goo...
Before Kaptaan asks for votes he must clarify his stance for religious extremism and rights of minorities, because so far he is still giving a vibe of a beardless mullah
PTI will Be a more known Jammat After the Third world war.lolz What a shame
arrangement seems good [ where from the finance is comming?]
This person IMRAN KHAN having no Agenda, he can only protest. Imran khan have only back up of Agencies. Once he said, em not against Zardari. Shariff bro'z are good and have a sound knowledge of this Game.
Is Dj Butt comming ?
placing chair is da most simple idea to show more space with less people...so that crowd of then thousand can be claimed as one hundered thousand... good luck wid Mian azhar!
Lol guys, stop reacting the way that clearly shows your age. That's how we normally cheer our cricket team or actors.
Imran Khan is a respected Person, but the language he & other PTI leaders are used, it shows Proudness & disrespect to others, which we should also criticize.
i want two tickets for the VIP enclosure please :)
imran we r with u..
Our leader Jinnah his also brought change from this place and InshaALLAH Imran will also...join him plz..
If you have no will to change it, you have no right to criticize it
i hope he gets his numbers ,and the numbers eventaully translate in votes. he even has a lot of support in karachi but mainly amongst unregistered voters.
i wish he shares his clear agenda , it is better to try somenew than the same vicous cycle of mqm,ppp, pml.n,q, f , anp, jui etc
its time to shun everything and step out in support if imran khan, else stay in home but never complain against the government. Come out , change the system or shut up and stay in homes
Khan's army marching on.
chairs are for the burger crowds, not the real citizens of pakistan who won't mind standing for couple of hours and don't need a chair....
minar-e-pakistan should not be politicized like this.
Yes Its a risk to hold Jalsa at such a big ground as contrast on narrow streets like PML-N.
But this confidence and risk taking ability of Imran Khan make him great leader.
Whenever, I read any book on leadership qualities, my faith on Imran get increased.
Please Guys, Comeout .
Please stop complaining, and being cynical. Show up on the day and join PTI to bring about a positive change in Pakistan. It is now or never.
Lahore is the city of Iqbal and not for sale. So these politicos should rather arrange a kabbadi match in some sports ground and leave the historic place away from the dirty politics.
I am shocked to see so many chairs. Those who will sit on these chairs have no votes and most probabley they will spend voting day playing tennis ball cricket in streets. I have started feeling bad for Imran. Soon he will mortgage his house for his day to day expenses.
lolz.... Poor Ik's banners has been sidelined in the second picture and all we can see is the banners of a ruling, Dynastic, corrupt political party..... i mean how these kind of parties call them self a "democratic party"????....
VIP enclosure? Yep the revolution has arrived!