On second day, Sharif rally gets mixed response
Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif’s rally through Punjab province entered its second day on Thursday, evoking a mixed response as thousands gathered to receive him at some places while the turnout in his party’s stronghold of Rawalpindi was lower than expected.
Sharif’s caravan slowly made its way into the rural areas of Punjab province en route to his hometown of Lahore. But key leaders from his ruling PML-N were conspicuously absent, with some commentators suggesting this could be a reflection of disagreements within the party.
But Sharif, who was disqualified by the Supreme Court last month for not being honest about his assets, remained unfazed by any of this and insisted the rally was the first step to bringing his party back to power in next year’s general elections. On the way to Jhelum, considered to be half way between Islamabad and Lahore, Sharif asked his supporters: “Do you accept the court’s decision? Did you not vote for me as your prime minister?”
He then added: “I have come out onto the streets with a case against your disqualification. There are no allegations of corruption against me.”
Sharif travelled from the garrison city of Rawalpindi to Ayub Park with his convoy but then separated from the other vehicles shortly after 2 pm. His armoured vehicle picked up speed and proceeded to Jhelum with a police escort. He passed a number of camps where small groups of PML-N workers had gathered to listen to him, the media reported.
Large numbers of police were deployed in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Thursday, as compared to the first day of the rally, but fewer cars were accompanying Sharif’s procession.
What was said to be a show of the PML-N’s political muscle especially in Rawalpindi, which has traditionally been a stronghold for the PML-N - had a lower turnout of supporters.