A let-down: PML-N rally proves anticlimactic despite large turnout
Many speakers failed to show up as participants clashed.
KARACHI:
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supporters held a rally on Sunday in favour of the federal government and against the sit-in protests in Islamabad.
While the distance that the rally covered - from the Regal Chowk to the Karachi Press Club (KPC) - was short, it was not without incident.
The 'pro-democracy' rally called Tahafuz-e-Jamhoriat [Protection of Democracy] was led by the party's provincial leaders, while thousands of activists from across the city joined in.
However, tempers flared as activists made their way towards KPC in the scorching heat and a few of the participants clashed with each other, leading to aerial shots being fired.
As a result, the rally was divided into several smaller ones that took different routes, causing minor traffic jams on almost all roads leading towards KPC; the traffic situation would have been much worse had it not been a Sunday.
The confusion surrounding the rally was not finished though. Journalists were initially informed by PML-N officials that the main programme in which the leaders were to deliver their speeches would be held at the KPC, only for it to be changed at the last minute to the Fawara Chowk, where a movable stage was set up.
The mismanagement and chaos surrounding the rally were unable to dampen the fervour of the participants, who shouted slogans in favour of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The party's internal conflicts reared their ugly head once more when the main programme was about to start as rumours surfaced that armed men were among the participants and that another clash was imminent, leading to many claiming that few prominent leaders would show up to address the gathered crowd.
Hence, in what proved to be an anticlimactic end, most of the local leaders lined up to speak at the event were 'unable to reach the event'.
In his short speech, PML-N's Humayun Khan - one of the few speakers - claimed that the party will not let Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri derail democracy.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2014.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supporters held a rally on Sunday in favour of the federal government and against the sit-in protests in Islamabad.
While the distance that the rally covered - from the Regal Chowk to the Karachi Press Club (KPC) - was short, it was not without incident.
The 'pro-democracy' rally called Tahafuz-e-Jamhoriat [Protection of Democracy] was led by the party's provincial leaders, while thousands of activists from across the city joined in.
However, tempers flared as activists made their way towards KPC in the scorching heat and a few of the participants clashed with each other, leading to aerial shots being fired.
As a result, the rally was divided into several smaller ones that took different routes, causing minor traffic jams on almost all roads leading towards KPC; the traffic situation would have been much worse had it not been a Sunday.
The confusion surrounding the rally was not finished though. Journalists were initially informed by PML-N officials that the main programme in which the leaders were to deliver their speeches would be held at the KPC, only for it to be changed at the last minute to the Fawara Chowk, where a movable stage was set up.
The mismanagement and chaos surrounding the rally were unable to dampen the fervour of the participants, who shouted slogans in favour of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
The party's internal conflicts reared their ugly head once more when the main programme was about to start as rumours surfaced that armed men were among the participants and that another clash was imminent, leading to many claiming that few prominent leaders would show up to address the gathered crowd.
Hence, in what proved to be an anticlimactic end, most of the local leaders lined up to speak at the event were 'unable to reach the event'.
In his short speech, PML-N's Humayun Khan - one of the few speakers - claimed that the party will not let Imran Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri derail democracy.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 25th, 2014.