RAWALPINDI- The workers and activists of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) along with trader, lawyer and students wings of PML-N held a rally on Monday to express solidarity with Prime Minister Mian Nawaz Sharif and denounce unconstitutional demands of PTI and PAT.
Led by local PML-N and JUI-F leaders, including Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, Haji Pervaiz Khan, Malik Abrar Ahmed, Raja Javed Ikhlas, Malik Iftikhar Ahmed, Chaudhry Sarfraz Afzal, Zaib-un-Nisa Awan, Raja Muhammad Hanif Advocate, Dr Jamal Nasir, Shaukat Aziz Bhatti, Zia Ullah Shah, Sheheryar Riaz, Chaudhry Muhammad Ayaz, Sardar Naseem, Ilyas Subhani and others, the participants marched on Benazir Bhutto Road and assembled at Faizabad Interchange. Torrential rain in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad submerged the rally and participants ran away leaving their leadership astonished.
A party leader, seeking anonymity, told this scribe that a large number of workers of PML-N were brought from Attock, Jhelum, Chakwal, Murree, Kotli Sattian, Jalti and other areas to make the show successful.
The activists of PML-N and JUI-F boarding on vehicles and motorcycles were holding national and party flags, placards and banners mentioning words in favour of PM Nawaz Sharif and Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif. They were also carrying portraits of their beloved leaders and were dancing on the tune of national and party songs.
According to details, a large number of PML-N workers poured on roads on the call of their leaders to express solidarity with PM Sharif and respond to PAT and PTI sit-ins being held in Islamabad.
Central leader of PML-N United Kingdom chapter Nasir Butt, who is in Rawalpindi nowadays, has brought out a big rally against what he termed the anti-democracy sit-ins in federal capital. Along with Hafiz Abdullah Butt and Malik Aqeel Shoukat a cavalcade comprising large number of cars started the protest rally from Dokh Ratta and after passing through various city streets joined the main rally brought out by the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) Rawalpindi Chapter at Benazir Bhutto Road to show their strength and to denounce the unconstitutional sit-ins of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Pakistan Awami Tehreek at Constitution Avenue in Islamabad.
Talking to The Nation Nasir Butt termed protests of both PAT and PTI devoid of any moral and legal grounds, adding that it was the sheer disgrace to the public mandate. He said that the participants of the rally brought out by the PML-N Rawalpindi chapter alone over-numbered the collective figure of both the sit-ins.
Nasir Butt said that PML-N chief Prime Minister Mohammad Nawaz Sharif has shown great tolerance and flexibility toward the protesting parties and went out of the way to accept their demands on reformation of electoral system in the country.
He however made it loud and clear that Premier Sharif would not step down come what may and would not let a bunch of miscreants highjack the system.
The leaders and workers renewed their support to PM Nawaz Sharif and vowed to foil all unconstitutional attempts and undemocratic moves to unseat him. They said that the Azadi March and Inquilab March were aimed at weakening the country and damaging the economy.
Speaking to the protesters, Hanif Abbasi said that the entire nation wanted continuation of the democratic process and a huge majority backed the prime minister in last general election. He said that a few thousands people belonging to a disgruntled party could not be allowed to undo the mandate given to the PML-N by millions of its voters. He said that the masses had rejected the unconstitutional demands of PTI and PAT.
Similarly, tens of hundreds of JUI-F activists took out a rally from Mareer Chowk to Faizabad Interchange. The activists were holding party flags in their hands.
A rosy welcome was accorded to leaders and stalwarts of PML-N upon their arrival at Faizabad Interchange by the workers. Gigantic traffic jam hit the city causing immense troubles for commuters and pedestrians. All the petrol pumps, shopping malls and other markets along with BBR were shut down to avert any untoward incident. Public transport remained off the road while taxi drivers and rickshaw drivers fleeced the passengers.
Earlier, the PML-N decorated every nook and corner of the city with huge-sized banners, portraits and stickers to mobilise people to come out from their houses to express solidarity with the PM. However, no member of civil society was witnessed in the rally.
Tight security arrangements were made by police and other law enforcement agencies to guard the marchers.