Imran Khan leads by-poll campaign from the front

PTI leaders visit Multan Road, Poonch Road, Samanabad, Rahat Park and Maqbool road among others

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan made his way to Lahore on Wednesday in a bid to reach out to NA-122 voters ahead of the October 11 by-election.

The district leadership of the party had announced the arrival of the PTI chief in Lahore on Monday to lead rallies during the final days of the campaign.

However, they had not released detailed plans. Security concerns and confusion within party ranks made the itinerary of Khan’s visit to the constituency a mystery.

His first stop on Wednesday was at Islamia Park. At the rally, he was flanked by the PTI local leaders Punjab organiser Chaudhry Sarwar, deputy provincial organiser Omer Sarfaraz Cheema, central information secretary Naeemul Haque and Aleem Khan.

Party sources said he had planned to inaugurate more than 20 PTI offices in the constituency. Khan’s convoy made its way to Multan Road, Poonch Road, Samanabad, Rahat Park, Maqbool Road, Peer Ghazi Road, Rehmanpura and Shah Jamal.

With hundreds of supporters and political workers joining the convoy, the PTI chief made brief stops at various locations to respond to the cheering crowds through his car’s sunroof.

The convoy fell behind schedule as it passed through densely populated localities and faced several traffic jams.

Mian Aslam Iqbal, who represents the constituency in the provincial assembly, also took part in the rally that lasted for over six hours.

The PTI campaign had been led by Chaudhry Sarwar until Imran Khan’s arrival. The PML-N campaign is led by Hamza Shahbaz.

Khan will be visiting PP-147 on Thursday (today). He is scheduled to hold another political gathering on October 4 and one on October 9. PTI’s Shoaib Siddiqi is contesting the by-polls from PP-147.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 1^st, 2015.