Show of strength: All roads lead to Islamabad for PTI supporters

Workers leave for capital in three convoys.

LAHORE:

Workers and leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Lahore made their way to Islamabad in several convoys, a stark departure from the strategy employed for the August 14 rally.

With the PTI alleging police raids to arrest their leaders and workers, party supporters left for the rally in small groups. This, the party leadership said, was planned to ensure supporters reached Islamabad to join their chairman at all costs.

“Our plan was to disperse crowds and supporters under various leaders, who travelled through different routes,” said PTI Punjab information secretary Andleeb Abbas.

Abbas said it was necessary to divide the supporters rather than take out a big rally because the government had mobilised police to harass them.

PTI’s Punjab and Lahore leadership led different convoys from various points. PTI Punjab general secretary Dr Yasmin Rashid and Andleeb Abbas were part of the convoy that left from Kala Shah Kaku.

“We have brought some of our workers including members of the PTI Women’s Wing in anticipation of a government plan to create hurdles,” said Abbas.

She said workers from south Punjab had been directed to reach Islamabad by Friday.

The party had announced on Friday that supporters would be asked to gather at Kala Shah Kaku, Thokar Niaz Beg and the Gaddafi Stadium before heading to Islamabad.

PTI Lahore president Abdul Aleem Khan was to lead the convoy from Gaddafi Stadium, MPA Dr Murad Raas was to lead the convoy from Thokar and PTI Punjab president Ejaz Chaudhry was to lead the convoy from Kala Shah Kaku.

Before leaving, Chaudhry said that the rally was being held to provide justice to the people. “The passion and commitment with which workers have stepped out today shows their dedication to our cause and their trust in the PTI,” he said. He said ‘Go Nawaz Go’ chant had spread to all corners of the country. Chaudhry’s convoy left via GT Road with hundreds of cars and coasters. The convoy passed through different districts of the province as it made its way to Islamabad with hundreds of cars joining the rally. According to the PTI Punjab media cell, around 3,500 cars and mini-buses were part of Chaudhry’s convoy.

PTI supporters had started gathering at the Gaddafi Stadium at around 10am.

However, Aleem Khan left for Islamabad on Saturday night. The Gaddafi Stadium convoy was led instead by PTI Lahore senior vice president Shoaib Siddiqui and information secretary Farrukh Javed Moon.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Moon said that the Lahore office had arranged for around 150 mini-buses for their supporters. He said that 52 buses had been seized by police.

Transporters who managed to bring their vehicles for the PTI rally said the political rivalry was affecting their business. Muhammad Ashiq, a transporter who had brought four mini-buses, said that the government should not hurt their businesses. “We are independent transporters. We provide transportation facility to whosoever pays us. It has got nothing to do with politics,” he said. Ashiq said that police had seized some buses on Saturday, but none on Sunday.

Besides PTI workers, hundreds of Insaf Students Federation members had gathered at Gadafi Stadium. ISF general secretary Arsal Khan said that they had a total of 34 buses, each with a capacity of around 40 people. “The government did not even spare students. Several prominent student leaders have been avoiding going home, fearing the will be arrested,” said Khan.

Dr Raas said the target was getting people to Islamabad, not gathering and showing their strength in Lahore. “Around a hundred cars and mini-buses are part of our convoy that left from Thokar. Several buses have been seized by police over the past four days. These tactics have hampered the movement of our workers, but we had anticipated them and made our own arrangements. They cannot deter us,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 1^st, 2014.