The rally on Friday will not only be remembered for the hostility the Punjab CM showed against President Asif Ali Zardari, but also for the expenditures incurred on the mega event.
According to political observers with experience of holding such rallies, the rally could have cost the PML-N around Rs 400 to 500 million. They said that the biggest chunk of the money would have been spent on arrangement of transport. According to reports, transport was arranged from all over Punjab to bring people to the venue. PML-N leaders were shown on TV channels distributing money to transporters. The participants have never seen so many banners, hoardings and portraits of party leaders before in such huge numbers, which were witnessed in the city and around Bhaatti Gate, costing a lot to organisers. The cost food for the participants and other logistics also added to the rally’s cost. One observer of the rally remarked that it would have been much better that the Punjab government spent the same amount on eradicating dengue instead of wasting it on the rally. Separately, Shahbaz surprisingly cut short the rally. According to reports, the real rally or public meeting lasted for 45 minutes, starting at 5:45pm and finished by 6:30pm.
