By By Shabbir Ahmed Mir
For his rally schedule on November 6 in Lalik Jan Stadium, when Nawaz Sharif arrived in the stadium it was at about 4:45 pm and by the time he started his speech the shadows had stretched over the stadium.
Though police were present in the stadium, the untrained but exited PML-N workers had themselves taken up the responsibility of Nawaz-led delegation’s security. A couple of scanners were erected in parts of the stadium but no one cared for them at any stage till Nawaz left the stadium.
The rostrum had no protection of bulletproof facility nor was there any standardised lighting arrangements even on the stage but Nawaz delivered the speech that continued after Maghreb prayer’s call. A bulb hanging near the rostrum illuminated Nawaz’s face, enabling the people to see him. Some police personnel standing alert on the podium were also facing difficulty in sighting the targets due to deepening dark and insufficient lighting. The Punjab Police accompanying Nawaz Sharif in plain clothes were vigilant but equally worried as Nawaz Sharif’s bold gestures encouraged his wellwishers to come closer to him many a time during his 3-day visit.
As though it wasn’t enough, dozens of delegations called on Mian Nawaz Sharif in the hotel whose security was equally poor. People freely met with the former prime minister and discussed issues with him.