He will depart from the capital on Aug 9, reach Lahore by Aug 11
LAHORE: Brisk preparations were under way to accord a tumultuous welcome to former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on his scheduled return to his hometown on August 11, (Friday).
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership has finalised the arrangements to give a warm reception to the former premier Mian Nawaz Sharif who will leave Islamabad on Wednesday to Lahore, via Grand Trunk (GT) Road.
After his disqualification from the Supreme Court, the former prime minister was scheduled to travel Lahore via Motorway on Sunday, but the plan was changed at the eleventh hour. Reportedly, the former premier convened meetings with different representatives of the party as well, during which he said that he decided to travel to Lahore via GT Road out of workers’ insistence.
To welcome the former prime minister, party workers from across Punjab are being mobilised by the local leadership to reach Lahore and other points at GT Road. To show solidarity with their leader Nawaz Sharif, Party workers have placed a larger numbers of banners and hoarding boards.
In Lahore, roads have been decorated with banners, hoarding boards and flexes since last Friday – when it was announced that Nawaz Sharif will be coming to Lahore.
According to the local leadership, Sharif will leave Islamabad on August 9, (Wednesday) at 9 am and arrive in the city on Friday (August 11).
PML-N Lahore President Pervaiz Malik, while talking to scribe, said that all was set to accord former prime minister. Malik, who was also heading a committee for making arrangements for former premier’s welcome, calling Nawaz Sharif a hero, said that PML-N was the largest political party of the country and its leadership believed in serving masses selflessly.
Member Punjab Assembly from PP 140 Majid Zahoor said that Lahore’s PML-N leadership is all set to welcome Nawaz Sharif whether he reaches on Thursday or Friday. While talking to Pakistan Today, he said that party workers will give him a historic reception at Data Darbar.
Nawaz Sharif will address rallies at different stopovers after leaving Islamabad. According to party leadership, the former prime minister will address party workers and rallies at 10 different stopovers at GT Road.
Meanwhile, Lahore city police finalised a foolproof security plan for the arrival of the former prime minister.
According to police officials, over 7,500 police personnel would be deployed on the route of Nawaz Sharif’s motorcade while at least 2000 traffic wardens would be deputed along former premier’s motorcade route to ensure smooth flow of traffic.
On another hand, PML-N leadership in other districts of Punjab busy in mobilising the party workers to get them on roads to welcome Nawaz Sharif on GT Road.
To review the arrangement, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique visited Gujranwala where he met party’s local leadership. He vowed that Nawaz Sharif will lead Pakistani politics to the right path.
