KARACHI: Capitalising on the renewed fervour within the party over the scheduled return of its supremo Nawaz Sharif on Saturday, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to use the opportunity to take on the rival Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in its stronghold, Sindh, through rallies and train caravans heading to Lahore to welcome him.

PML-N leaders on Thursday announced that two special trains carrying workers and supporters, leaving Sindh for Lahore on Friday, would “let the PPP know how strong support our party enjoys in the province”.

Addressing a press conference at the party’s Karachi office called ‘Muslim League House’, they hit back at PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari for accusing the state institutions and caretaker administration of supporting the PML-N and facilitating the homecoming of Nawaz Sharif.

In his recent public remarks, the former foreign minister had accused the state of making all-out efforts to bring back Nawaz Sharif, even at the cost of democratic norms and the schedule for the general elections, which have been delayed beyond the constitutionally mandated deadline.

Leaders claim mass mobilisation of cadre across Sindh unnerving PPP leadership

“Bilawal should go to them [the establishment], whom he accused of supporting Nawaz Sharif and having struck a deal with him,” said Mohammad Zubair, former Sindh governor and spokesman for Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz.

“We did not have a fight neither with the establishment nor with any political party. We only disagreed over ideology and harm to the interests of Pakistan. And those who are saying that the PML-N doesn’t exist in Sindh, they would see themselves when thousands of people would move to Lahore to welcome their beloved leader,” he said.

He reiterated that it was “pressure that had forced the judiciary to give a verdict against Nawaz Sharif in 2017, without considering the principles of justice”. And the events that unfolded over the recent years exposed the characters behind the campaign based on hatred, divide and conspiracy, he said.

The Karachi chapter leaders of the party, including Nasiruddin Mahmood and Ali Akbar Gujjar, also shared details of the train caravan leaving from two different cities of Sindh for Lahore to welcome Nawaz Sharif.

Bashir Memon, a former Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) chief who had announced joining PML-N only last month and was appointed as convener of a 12-member committee from Sindh to mobilise workers and look after other arrangements for the welcome reception, said that two special trains would leave from Karachi and Hyderabad on Friday morning with thousands of workers and supporters.

“During our journey to Lahore, the trains would make stop overs at different stations for rallies and power shows,” he said. “The train from Karachi, after leaving Cantt Station, would make stop overs at Drigh Road and Landhi stations where people would join it in rallies. We have also planned a rally at Rohri railway station. We have mobilised our party leaders and workers in every district and town of Sindh,” he added.

Senior PML-N leader Nehal Hashmi, who is also a member of the committee headed by Mr Memon, without naming any party accused rivals of “losing patience and senses” amid growing popularity of Nawaz Sharif and realisation of upcoming change in Sindh.

“So you see those elements are making a hue and cry seeing the return of Nawaz Sharif. Those who were of the view that the PML-N has zero presence in Sindh would be more worried when they would see thousands of people from the province welcoming Nawaz Sharif in Lahore,” he added.

Published in Dawn, October 20th, 2023