LAHORE - Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed is leading the arrangements for Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri’s Pakistan Awami Tehreek protest gathering to be held at Rawalpindi tomorrow (September 3), leaders of Dr Qadri’s party told The Nation yesterday.

Leaders of Dr Qadri’s party said that it is the specific skills of Sheikh Rasheed and his charismatic impact on the people of Rawalpindi which made him the choice for the job.

However, some of Dr Qadri’s lieutenants calling it a bad move which will demoralise the party ranks in Rawalpindi.

In order to dispel the impression among the party ranks that Rasheed is the driving force behind Rawalpindi protest moot, a 10-member committee under party’s north Punjab president Brigadier (retd) Mushtaq has been constituted to give final shape to the preparations.

A party spokesman told the paper, a meeting under the chair of Dr Tahir-ul-Qadri the committee has been formed to look after the arrangements and extend invitations to opposition and likeminded parties to join the Rawalpindi show.

Party president Khurram Nawaz Gandapur will leave for Rawalpindi today to supplement the arrangements. Dr Qadri will speak to the protest gathering tomorrow at 9pm, added the spokesman.

PTI has completed arrangements for their anti-government drive tomorrow at Lahore demanding accountability of the ruling family and others under Panama Leaks.

Delegations of PML-Q, PPP, PAT, JI and MWM will participate in PTI show at the provincial capital, a party spokesperson told the paper.

Imran Khan will address the party leaders during Ehtesaab March Lahore episode at Shahdara, Bhatti Gate, Nasir Bagh, High Court Chowk and Chairing Cross, the culmination point of the rally.

PTI has set a target of gathering over 200,000 people for its rally in the provincial capital.

However, there are no fixed targets for the party lawmakers and former ticket holders for filling in the Shahdara, the new venue for the PTI’s accountability march, disclosed members of PTI committee, which is organising the whole campaign for Punjab capital city.

“The party leaders from Lahore region - which falls in central Punjab interim party organisation setup – have been directed to bring as many participants as they can,” they added.

Welcome camps will be set up along the route of the march. All wings of the party belonging to City chapter have been assigned duties.

Participation in the march from all Union Councils of Lahore will be ensured by the MNAs, MPAs and former ticket holders, directed head of the organizing committee Ijaz Chaudhary.