The strangest moments from Nawaz Sharif's 'homecoming' rally

Published August 10, 2017
Unable to keep a lid on his emotions, one of Nawaz Sharif's supporters breaks into a spontaneous dance. Photo:Screengrab
Unable to keep a lid on his emotions, one of Nawaz Sharif's supporters breaks into a spontaneous dance. Photo:Screengrab

Across Punjab, Nawaz Sharif loyalists (and at least one group of detractors) added some colourful highlights to the second day of his 'homecoming' rally.

As the deposed prime minister makes his way home on GT Road, attempting to drum up support among loyalists along the way, Pakistanis have found novel ways to show the thrice-elected prime minister how they feel about his ouster.

The spontaneous bhangra in Jhelum

The former prime minister found himself in the midst of a considerably awkward situation right before he spoke to party workers in Jehlum.

As Nawaz Sharif stood on stage with his party's leaders from the city, one man, who was incidentally also holding Sharif's hand, broke into a sudden dance in full view of the gathered crowd.

The ex-premier seemed mortified for a split second as he freed his hand and absorbed the situation.

The charged loyalist, who thankfully realised that his solo performance hadn't elicited a wider response, quickly composed himself.

The warm-up drill

A video shot in Gujranwala featured local wrestlers in colourful outfits engaging in warm-up exercises — including push-ups and sit-ups — on prompts of "wazir-i-azam Nawaz Sharif".

The sacrificial camel

Another video, shot in Gujrat, showed local PML-N workers pledging to sacrifice a camel upon Nawaz Sharif's arrival in the town.

The poor animal, disdainfully oblivious to its fate, also sported the PML-N's slogan for the rally: "We are all Nawaz Sharif".

The garland of naans

A video of a group of youngsters in Gujranwala protesting the deposed prime minister's alleged corruption also stood out.

Flanked by friends, one of the protesters held a pumpkin next to his head and wore a garland of naans inscribed with anti-Nawaz slogans, including the popular "Go Nawaz, Go!"

The symbolism of the naans and the pumpkin was not immediately clear.

Chanting slogans against the Sharif family, one of the protesters, addressing the former prime minister, pleaded: "Please leave us be, for God's sake!"

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