Chants for Altaf fill the stadium

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LAHORE – The football stadium echoed with chants in favour of Altaf Hussain as the Mutahhida Qaumi Movement worked gathered at the Lahore Football Stadium for the Istahkam-e-Pakistan convention on Sunday.
Some of the slogans were Agia Chha Gia Altaf Chha gia (Altaf came and conquered hearts), Asin nahi tey sadey baad Altaf Altaf (Altaf’s leadership would remain forever). Mutahida workers and supporters including women and students came carrying Altaf Hussain portraits, party flags and banners inscribed with MQM slogans from far flung areas of Punjab.
Large Altaf Hussain portraits were erected in the football ground while the rest of the stadium was filled with MQM party flags and Altaf Hussain’s pictures. The audience stood up and welcomed when it was announced that Altaf was on-line. The speech was listened to attentively, with the stadium turning silent for two minutes when Altaf Hussain asked the audience to be silent.
Strict security arrangements were made at the meeting venue with entry only allowed from Ferozepur Road. The Liberty entrance to the stadium was closed. 8 walk through gates were installed at the stadium entrance, with a body search was made at three different points before allowing entry to the stadium. Separate entry points were kept for media and VIPs.
Delegates from Pakistan Muslim League (PML-Q), International Khatam-e-nabuwat Movement, All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) Musharraf and International Husaini Council attended the meeting. No guests from other parties were seated on the stage except PML-Q Chuadhry Zaheer.
The meeting started at 4:00pm instead of scheduled time, while, the public attendance at the meeting was estimated around 10,000. Altaf Hussain address started at 5:30pm and end at 6:15pm. It is important to note that a majority of the audience hailed from Karachi and Southern Punjab.
However, compared to earlier public meetings in Lahore the MQM leadership succeeded in showing its strength this time.