PML-N all set to welcome Nawaz

LAHORE: Pakistan Muslim League (N) leaders have finalised their plan to accord an historic welcome to former prime minister Nawaz Sharif as he is all set to arrive in Lahore on Friday in the unique capacity of holding no parliamentary or party office. 

The first welcoming point has been set up at Shahdara Chowk near Shahdara Railway Station. The MNA from that constituency, Malik Riaz, and MPA Ghazali Butt will welcome the deposed prime minister. Khawaja Imran Nazir won’t be there because he is currently outside the country in England. The PML-N Traders Wing led by Wing Chief Babar Mahmood will also be present at the point to welcome their leader.

The PML-N workers, supporters, youth, women and children are all waiting for their leader Mian Nawaz Sharif and will show their support like never before at this historic welcome, said Ghazali Butt. The second pit-stop for Nawaz’s caravan will be at Niazi Chowk where PML-N ally Jamaat Ahlehadith leader Hafiz Abdul Kareem will join the PML-N leaders. MNA Sheikh Rohail Asghar will be present on this spot while Ghazali Butt will continue to escort the motorcade. Minister Commerce and Textile Pervaiz Malik, MPA Ch Shahbaz and Bao Akhtar will be awaiting Nawaz at Qila Lakhsman Singh, which will be the next welcoming point for the rally. The PML-N leadership from NA-125 will be there at this point. “Enthusiasm of the PML-N workers and leaders is extraordinary, we will show our rivals, the difference between staged and managed concert-crowds and a genuine political outburst of emotions by the actual people,” said Ch Sohail.

“People of the country have loved and voted for PML-N for over 30 years, they are disgruntled and anxious to express their support for their leader, who they believe have been dealt somewhat harshly by the judiciary”, said Pervaiz Malik while talking to The News.

Azadi Chowk will be up next among the remaining welcoming points for the rally. MNA Sohail Shaukat Butt, MPA Ghulam Habib Awan and Rana Tajammal will be present with their supporters. PML-N Minorities wing led by Federal Minister for Human Rights, Senator Kamran Michael, will host a warm welcome for the former PM at a stopover in front of Lady Wellington Hospital. PML-N office-bearers from NA-122 will be hosting the welcome at Taxali Chowk. It is, however, unclear if MNA NA-122 Sardar Ayaz Sadiq will be able to take part at this welcoming point. At the next welcoming point at ‘Pir Makki’, MNA Afzal Khokhar, MPA Saiful Malook Khokhar and Ch Gulzar will be responsible for taking care of affairs. Once the rally reaches its final destination at Data Darbar, Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Hamza Shahbaz, Khawaja Ahmed Hassaan, Saad Rafiq and other leadership will join the rally.