Nawaz decides to travel to Lahore via GT Road

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif while changing his mind regarding traveling to Lahore via Motorway has now decided to undertake the journey through Grand Trunk (GT) Road.

Nawaz Sharif would be visiting Lahore for the first time after the Supreme Court verdict of July 28 in Panama Papers case in which he was disqualified. He will be leaving for Lahore at 9:00am on August 09 (Wednesday). The convoy that will start from Punjab House Islamabad will enter Punjab from Rawalpindi. He will be passing through Rawat, Mandra, Dina, Gujjar Khan, Sari Alamgir, Jhelum, Kharian, Gujrat, Wazirabad, Gakhar, Gujranwala, Muridke, Kala Shah Kaku, Shahdara and enter Lahore from Niazi Chowk. 

Sources in the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) told The News that Nawaz Sharif discarded apprehensions regarding security and made it clear that since the people are asking him to meet, how would it be possible for him to disregard their affection. Nawaz will be received by people in all cities in befitting manner whilethe PML-N Lahore has already made elaborate arrangements for his reception in the city. 

Spokesman for the PML-N Senator Asif Saeed Kirmani said the change of schedule and route has been made on the demand of the people of areas falling in the way from Islamabad to Lahore. The elaborate arrangements of his countrywide visit would be planned after his arrival in Lahore. 

Nawaz Sharif, who was profusely greeted by the people on arrival in the federal capital earlier Saturday spend hectic day at the Punjab House. The meeting where the decision regarding altering the route was made was attended by the PML-N stalwarts including Maryam Nawaz, Chaudhry Nisar, Ahsan Iqbal, Khawaja Asif, Senator Ishaq Dar, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Senator Asif Kirmani, Senator Mushahidullah Khan, Zahid Hamid, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Senator Pervaiz Rashid, Daniyal Aziz, Talal Chaudhry and Prime Minister Azad Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider. Nawaz Sharif announced that he would also visit Azad Kashmir later.