ISLAMABAD: The expectations of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) workers, which diminished after a number of unsuccessful attempts to remove former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, have revived after his disqualification by the Supreme Court of Pakistan.

A large number of PTI workers, who reached the Parade Ground on Sunday to observe a thanksgiving day, looked recharged.

They were hopeful that the party can form its government in Islamabad after the general elections expected to be held in 2018.

Naqash Haider from the federal capital, who works in a private bank, told Dawn that it was a fact that after a number of failures the morale of the PTI supporters had gone down.

“People, including myself, were thinking that the PTI might never come to power at the federal level and Imran Khan might never become the prime minister of the country. However, after the dismissal of Mr Sharif, it is being expected that Mr Khan will be the next prime minister,” he said.

Say Nawaz Sharif’s ouster has boosted morale of supporters and raised party’s expectations to form govt in Islamabad after 2018 elections

In reply to a question, Mr Haider said the court decision had also given a hope to the citizens that accountability of the elite class in Pakistan was possible.

“Moreover, now politicians will not dare to indulge themselves in corruption and instead play their role for the development of the country. In the past, he added, politicians believed that they would never be caught because of their power, wealth and ability to bribe institutions,” he said.

A member of the PTI Central Executive Committee, Shafique Afridi, who came from Peshawar, said there was no doubt that the PTI would get a boost because of the court verdict.

“However, it depends on Mr Khan how he takes advantage of this opportunity. As long as I know he is a person who takes full advantage of an opportunity just like he used to do while playing cricket,” he said.

Iftikhar Hussain, who came from Fort Abbas in Bahawalnagar and works in a food company, said Pakistan had been suffering for over 60 years because of the corrupt elite and there was no hope that the country would ever come out of its problems.

“Imran Khan has been raising a voice against corruption for two decades and has finally got an opportunity to prove that the menace of corruption is the only reason for keeping Pakistan a Third World country,” he said.

Alamdar Jamal from Nagar in Gilgit-Baltistan said the PTI had to take a number of steps to grab an advantage of the opportunity.

“First, the party should prove that it has curbed corruption in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Second, Mr Khan should raise a voice for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and other areas who have been deprived of their rights,” he said.

He said Mr Khan had the capability to lead the nation and change the fate of the country.

Security arrangements

Around 2,500 officials of the operational police, traffic police, Rangers and other law enforcement agencies were deputed for the security of the public meeting.

A police official requesting anonymity said 1,600 officials of the operational police, 567 traffic policemen and over 300 officials of other law enforcement agencies were on the security duty.

“There are four entry points and 10 walk-through gates to ensure that no one entered the venue along with weapons or any explosive material. Moreover, the PTI also deputed its workers to ensure security,” he said.

“There are a total of 11,699 chairs, including 10,643 for women,” he added.

Citizens unable to walk in Kachnar Park

The residents of Sector I-8 and nearby areas could not visit the Kachnar Park for a routine walk as a large number of officials of law enforcement agencies were sitting there. Moreover, buses of the law enforcement agencies along with other vehicles were also parked in the park.

Humma Khalid told Dawn that she reached the park for a walk but decided to return home after seeing so many security personnel there.

“Hopefully, next time the district administration will ensure that no official of the law enforcement agencies sit in the park,” she said.

According to a report of a law enforcement agency, by 7pm there were around 8,500 men and 650 women in the venue. Moreover, around 650 vehicles and 700 motorbikes were in the main parking area.

PTI rallies cause gridlocks in Pindi

After the ruling PML-N’s big rally against the decision of the Supreme Court to unseat Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, it was on Sunday the turn of the opposition PTI to hold a public gathering in favour of the verdict at the Parade Ground in Islamabad.

But it was another day for the residents of Rawalpindi to witness traffic gridlocks especially on Murree Road and Airport Road. In the hot and humid weather, the traffic jams created problems for the motorists.

The traffic police failed to control the situation. “The police failed to control the traffic during the rallies,” said Mohammad Irfan, a resident of Satellite Town.

Raja Akram of Arya Mohallah said rallies and protests should be banned on Murree Road. “If the Islamabad administration can allocate a special ground for public meetings outside the main city, why can’t the Rawalpindi administration provide an alternative route for the rallies so they would not enter the inner parts of the city,” he said.

He said narrow streets and roads witnessed traffic mess due to rallies and protests which would be a routine matter in coming days.

Mohammad Javed said the traffic police should make arrangements for an alternative route before the rallies and protests.

He said long queues of vehicles on Airport Road and Raja Bazaar exposed the mismanagement of the administration.

Meanwhile, the PTI workers and supporters took out rallies from all the seven tehsils of Rawalpindi district to participate in the public meeting. Four main rallies from Cantonment, Gujar Khan, Kahuta and Kalar Syedan joined at District Courts Square on Airport Road and moved to Islamabad Expressway via Koral Chowk led by PTI district president Zahid Kazmi.

However, the PTI city chapter’s rallies gathered at Rehmanabad. The workers and supporters were chanting slogans in favour of Imran Khan and against Nawaz Sharif.

“As many as 1,000 workers gathered at Ashiana Centre on Murree Road near Rehmanabad, 2,000 gathered at Peshawar Road and the remaining arrived from other parts of the district,” a PTI leader said.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2017