The Pervez Musharraf-led All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) is expecting around 0.1 million people to participate in its rally at Mazar-e-Quaid on Sunday (today).
“We have arranged 50,000 chairs. However, our party that is only one-year-old should not be compared with those that have been around for 15 to 30 years,” APML Central Vice President Pervez Shah told Pakistan Today. “But still, the people of Karachi like Pervez Musharraf and will give us a good response.”
The APML has arranged its own volunteers to manage the rally – around 600 for the stage and 1,200 volunteers for the crowd. A 40 feet long stage has been prepared at the exact same place where the one for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rally had been set up.
Other preparations include 25 gates including separate ones for female participants, a media gallery and walkthrough gates as well.
“The APML has set up welcome camps in different parts of the city for the past three days. The people have welcomed the APML and desire that Pervez Mushsrraf should return to the country,” said Shah.
“Representatives of the party from every district of Sindh would participate in the rally. The public meeting will start at 2 pm and Musharraf would speak to the public via phone from Dubai at 4 pm,” he added.
It may be recalled that during her stay in Dubai, Pakistan People’s Party’s slain chairperson Benazir Bhutto had tried many times to address a public meeting in Pakistan via phone. But the authorities there had not allowed her to use Dubai for political activities.
Central leaders of the APML including Chauhdry Shahbaz, Mian Zahid Sarfraz, Barrister Saif, Dr Amjad, Ghualm Rasool Unnar, Pervez Ali Shah and Ahmed Raza Kasuri would address the rally.
The APML has followed the footsteps of the PTI methods to publicise its rally. Hoardings displaying pictures of Pervez Musharraf and the Quaid-e-Azam can be seen at almost all prominent places of the city. Banners and stickers have also been put at poles in many areas of the metropolitan.
A bonfire and musical concert has also been arranged a night before the rally at the venue to woo the public.
The Sindh government has assured the APML that strict security arrangements would be made for the rally.
A delegation headed by Parvez Ali Shah and Ghulam Rasool Unnar met with home minister Manzoor Wasan on Saturday. The minister assured them that the provincial government would deploy a large number of police and Rangers for security at the rally.
APML expecting 0.1m to turn up at its rally today
