The provincial capital is giving off its traditional aura of being Pakistan’s political centre these days as the banners and hoardings of two political parties are on display everywhere ahead of their rallies this weekend. Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI)’s shows of force in Lahore this weekend, which will determine the public trend for the future political canvass in the country.
Both parties are in a race to show off their popularity among the people, as well as strike a blow to each other. The October 28 PML-N rally is aimed at targeting not only the PTI but also instigating resentment against the Pakistan People’s party (PPP).
On one side is the ruling party of the province, the PML-N, trying to display its strength in its traditional stronghold. On the other is the thorn in Nawaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari’s paw: cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, who is set to hold his own rally on Sunday at the Minar-e-Pakistan ground where the resolution for the creation of Pakistan was first adopted on March 23, 1940.
The entire PTI leadership is busy organising its Lahore show and is hopeful of a good response as its youth force has assured a fabulous turnout. In this competition, to some extent political observers as well as the general public is eagerly awaiting the PTI’s public gathering more than the PML-N’s, since it would be the first ever show of power for the nascent third force in Pakistani politics and will go a long way towards determining its future.
Imran’s slogan for the rally is “Throw out this government and save the country”, which leaves little to the imagination when it comes to the intention of the gathering.
“God willing we will have a very big political gathering on Sunday. People are coming from various cities to attend and mostly the youth are supporting us,” PTI Senior Vice President Hamid Khan said. But it remains to be seen whether the public will be captivated by the political commotion. The PTI had boycotted the 2008 general elections but seems to be brimming with confidence about its prospects in the next polls.
As the PML-N rally kicks off, it will be tough for Lahoris to find public transport on Friday and possibly even on Saturday and Sunday as the party has acquired the prime share of the city’s transport for PML-N workers and other participants.
Pml N has govt machinary – all the ( patwaris , tehasil dars , dcos ) and espicaly the MNAs and MPAs are forcing the people to attend the rally, they also have forced transports to give the transport as well —
PPP is also supporting PTI. Do not worry all are not clean in this game. can you justify the PTI spending that is raising pro poor slogans? How many poor are in this party?
my dear khurram no body want to hear about his side so see many people ratting negative comment PTI jalsa was showing the spending itself. so where it came from ?
i m from PP113 our MPA – Mian Tariq Mehmood is also forcing his supports to back him and after rally he will be able to give a news to the media that He attended the rally with thousands of people and 100 cars and vans
seems like pml n is keeping the old tradition alive …. i think it is enough … they should go now !!! no more status quo !
"Go Zardari Go" comes from the heart of those who have suffered poverty, injustice, humiliation and frustration. It is the call of majority to save democracy from these thugs.
hahaha i m fully agree to ur remarks these r all 100% thug specially Zardari group
For FOUR years they acted as friendly opposition and now when election year is approaching..they are on the streets.
NAWAZ and SHAHBAZ must listen that for four years they ruled PUNJAB, in fact they ruled since 1980 minus Musharaf period. What did they give to this province….bad governance and total collapse of society!!
SHAME ON NAWAZ AND SHABAZ….u desrve Qaddafi like ending..you both ruled for 24 long years altogether and look where are we standing today!!
Get lost to Jeddah!!
Ganjay brothers should go back to Jeddah and leave us please.
Could not agree more with you Ali. PML-N is a real political party which strategies its coarse as per political weather. We all know from WikiLeaks that they were dilly-dallying the reinstatement of CJ but as soon as their provincial government was toppled, they started an all-out war against Islamabad. We have not forgotten that they told US Ambassador that their interest lied in the reinstatement of Punjab Government and not CJ.
We all supported PML-N until their hypocrisy stared us in the eye. Dear Sharif brothers, do not blame Imran Khan for stealing your political prospect, you axed your own foot. We just found Imran Khan honest.
No more drama from PML (N), the nation knows they are equally corrupt as Zardari is. They just want their turn now to make more money. We are with Imran.
High time we leave our computers and join Imran khans rally to show our support! Perfect opportunity to unleash ourselves from the menace of "Dengue brothers" who for some strange reason consider lahore/punjab as their feifdom. So lets break the status quo!
Please go to Dengue Brothers rally and keep few pairs of shoes with you… and make sure you dont miss any chance of throwing on both of them.
lolsss..good one yar:)
my only question is as i saw in jalsa most are young people how many have registered vote? and also saw may women wearing jeans, t shirt, and some without dopata and music after few second of prayer what type of mixture is this, and one more question is as candidates announced by PTI are most defeated politician from various parties is this change? remember corruption is mostly likely at down management level which will be remain and continue even PTI get into govmernment.
punjab politics major part depend on rural areas, and their works only cast, power, and individual ability of candidates, i have one question how many people in pakistan are educated and use computer and specially internet i.e facebook, twitter. in jalsa imran khan didn't discussed any point about the business society , shopkeepers.
imran khan actually support asif ali zardari.due to him ppp will form new govt because imran will distrubed punjab vote bank.geo imran khan geo pti suppoters.
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