Rivals must see nation showing solidarity with Nawaz: PML-N

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leaders on Wednesday said that opponent must see that the whole nation was showing solidarity with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. They said this while referring to the huge caravan of Nawaz Sharif as thousands of party workers travelled with Nawaz Sharif when his caravan started its journey from the Punjab House, Islamabad, for Lahore. The caravan took hours to travel a few kilometers from the federal capital to Rawalpindi.

Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal said that the people were warmly welcoming Nawaz Sharif. The people were expressing their emotions and love with Nawaz Sharif during the rally, he said while talking to a private news channel.

The minister said that the opponents were worried about this situation and public participation in the rally. He said PTI would witness the popularity of the PML-N among masses and their rising support in the days to come.

Minister for Climate Change, Senator Musahidullah Khan said that the people were warmly receiving the rally of Nawaz Sharif, who was living in the hearts of masses. The PML-N government would foil all the conspiracies against democracy, he said while talking to a private news channel. He said that the continuity of democratic system was imperative for stability and prosperity of the country.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chauhdry said Nawaz Sharif was the prime minister of the people and their hearts. He said that the people came out to warmly greet their cherished leader Nawaz Sharif.

The rally of former prime minister would be concluded at the shrine of Hazrat Data Darbar Lahore, the minister said. Minister for Health Services and Regulations Saira Afzal Tarar said that the conspiracies against Nawaz Sharif would die down with the passage of time and he would emerge victorious against all odds.

"Conspiracies against Nawaz Sharif are destined to fail. Sharif is living in hearts of people and nobody can stop people from loving and supporting him," she said in a statement.

The minister said, “Hafizabad is a stronghold of PML-N and people of the area would accord the warmest welcome to the former prime minister.” She said that the party supporters and leadership were in high spirit and would emerge as victorious once again particularly in upcoming elections.

Saira Afzal said, “Serving masses is faith of Nawaz Sharif no matter whatever blames and allegations his opponents are hurling against him.” "If serving the masses is a crime, Nawaz Sharif would continue committing this crime again and again,” she opined.

Minister for Railways Saad Rafique said theta active participation of a huge number of PML-N workers in the rally indicated that Nawaz Sharif lived in the hearts of the public and he would continue to rule hearts of the masses.

"I congratulate the workers of PML-N on participating in the rally, their participation in the rally indicates that conspiracies cannot cause any dent to popularity of Nawaz Sharif," he added.

He said journey of nine kilometers from Punjab House to I-8 interchange was completed in five hours, and the rally's arrival time in Lahore could not be determined, keeping in view the current pace.

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkahwa (KP) PML-N President Engineer Amir Muqam said, “The party workers live and die for Nawaz Sharif.” Amir Muqam is leading a rally of PML-N from Peshawar to Islamabad.

Talking to media he asserted that they would show Imran Khan the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s public was with Nawaz Sharif. “Slogans of Nawaz Sharif Zindabad are being raised in KP,” he said.

The PML-N leader blamed Imran Khan of having double policies and standards. Imran Khan paralysed Islamabad during his 128-day sit-in at D-Chowk. But they were conducting this rally from KP without any government machinery. However it was seen last year that KP chief minister and others while utilising all provincial resources were on their way to attack Islamabad, said Amir Muqam.

He said that those tactics were legal for Imran Khan, but objections had been raised when Nawaz Sharif was returning home. “The people are going along with Nawaz Sharif out of their love and loyalty with him. We are committed to the public and not to the opposition. Nawaz Sharif was the prime minister yesterday and will also be in the future,” he maintained.

PML-N leader Asif Kirmani also spoke on the occasion. He said that some people had arrived in the country from Canada to poke their nose in unconcerned matters.

He pronounced that it was yet not known when the rally would reach Lahore. “We don’t know at what place the night or evening will occur. We will sleep wherever the night approaches us,” he said.

Mr Kirmani said the public court had acquitted Nawaz Sharif. He said that PTI was afraid due to popularity of Nawaz Sharif among the people. PML-N leaders thanked the party workers for their active participation in the rally of Nawaz Sharif.

"The party workers' passion, solidarity with their beloved leader Nawaz Sharif and participation in the rally is exemplary," they said while addressing the rally participants at I-9 Interchange. Prime Minister Azad Jammu and Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafiz Hafeezur Rehman and the PML-N leadership from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab are participating in the rally.