Azadi March: PTI rally seeks support for Sunday meeting

The ‘car and motorcycle’ rally started at Liberty Chowk and ended at Azadi Chowk.

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Friday took out a rally to mobilise support for its public gathering at Minto Park on Sunday.

The rally started from Liberty Chowk at 5.30pm and ended at Azadi Chowk. The participants drove through Gulberg’s Main Boulevard, Jail Road, The Mall and the Lower Mall.

Participation at the start of the rally at Liberty Chowk was thin. However, more party leaders and workers joined it en route. Attendance of female workers was low as compared to previous rallies and sit-ins.

Many participants of the rally carried placards and party flags and chanted Go Nawaz Go.

Insaf Students’ Federation and Insaf Youth Wing (IYW) members were led by Murad Raas and Waleed Iqbal.

Party workers danced to Pashto songs at Liberty Chowk, attracting attention of passers-by. Traffic between Liberty Chowk and Kalma Chowk remained suspended due to the rally for hours.

“PTI’s Sunday show at Minar-i-Pakistan will be a big blow to the status quo. The days of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz are numbered. People will continue to protest against the government until it quits,” Raas told the rally participants.

Iqbal said the party’s Azadi March had mobilised people across the country. “They want change. Our workers have launched a door-to-door campaign urging people to attend the public meeting at Minto Park,” he said.

Iqbal said Sunday’s public meeting would add a new chapter to the country’s history.

“People stand by PTI chairman Imran Khan. People from all walks of life want to overthrow the government that has come to power through rigging. The Sunday gathering will shake its foundations,” he said.

PTI Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry said the Sunday public gathering would end up with the government’s ouster.

“The meeting will be a huge set back for the Sharifs.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2014.