ISLAMABAD/Rawalpindi: Negating the impression that the popularity graph of the PTI was on the decline after the Panama Leaks case verdict, a large number of people reached Democracy Park (Parade Avenue) to participate in the party’s public gathering on Friday.

A number of participants even did not agree that the Supreme Court judgment was not in favour of the PTI and said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif should resign.

Malik Faqir, the nazim of a village council in Tehsil Karak, told Dawn that Imran Khan’s popularity cannot be dented unless he gets an opportunity to serve the nation by becoming the prime minister.

“Though currently the PTI has its government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa it cannot deliver as long as the PML-N is in power at the centre. A large number of people are supporting the PTI and will continue doing so,” he added.

Abdul Sattar, an auto-mechanic from Chakdara, said the presence of such a huge crowd showed that the PTI’s popularity was increasing.

“Imran Khan is the most popular politician of the country. After the Panama case it has become clear that the prime minister owned property in the United Kingdom but failed to produce any proof that the property was purchased through legal income,” he said.

Sohail Khan from Swabi said it was a wrong impression that the Panama case decision was in favour of the prime minister.

“The verdict has proved that there were so many ambiguities about the assets of the premier and his family.”

Arshad Mehmood, a resident of Islamabad, said people of Pakistan had no other choice except Imran Khan.

“The citizens believe that only Mr Khan can address their issues. I am sure the popularity of the PTI will further increase,” he said.

However, some of the participants did not agree with these claims.

Badshah Khan, who works as a salesman at Bara Market Rawalpindi, said the decision of the court was not as per expectations of the PTI.

“I believe that the popularity of the PTI has decreased as Imran Khan had created an impression that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would be sacked. Though I am disappointed, I will continue supporting the PTI,” he said.

Real estate dealer Ahmed Shabir from Gujranwala, who has been living in the federal capital for over two decades, said people did not have entertainment opportunities and thronged the venues of such public gatherings.

“I have also come here for entertainment and know both the PTI and PML-N have their own agendas and never bother about the public issues,” he said.

Pashto songs

A majority of the participants in the public meeting were Pakhtuns with most of the songs being played in Pashto.

One of the participants, Mohammad Khan, said some Pashto songs were associated with the PTI so they were played in the PTI public meetings everywhere.

Entry point puzzles participants

A number of participants were confused about the entry point to the venue.

The last public meeting of the PTI after the long march in 2016 was held at the same venue but its entry point was near Faizabad.

Shahid Nazir told Dawn that he parked his car near Faizabad and reached the point from where he had entered the venue last time.

“However, there were barbed wires and officials of the traffic police told me that the entry point was a little ahead. But I had to walk almost two kilometres to reach near the stage. The city administration should fix only one entry and exit point for all public meetings,” he said.

Sheikh Rashid declares PM a security risk

Awami Muslim League (AML) president Sheikh Rashid Ahmed declared Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif a security risk. He said Mr Sharif was facing corruption charges and held an undercover meeting with Indian business tycoon Sajjan Jindal in Murree.

He expressed these views while talking to mediapersons outside Lal Haveli before taking out a rally towards the venue of the PTI public rally.

Mr Rashid said holding a secret meeting with the Indian businessman in Murree had sparked speculations at a time when Nawaz Sharif was facing the Panamagate scandal.

“Nawaz Sharif has become a security risk for the country and his days are numbered,” he said.

He said the AML and PTI would welcome all those who would leave the PML-N because of the involvement of their leaders in corruption. “We also welcome federal minister Riaz Pirzada for resigning from the cabinet,” he said.

He said he was taking a massive rally to Islamabad where the AML and the PTI would demand the resignation of the prime minister.

Meanwhile, the PTI leaders also marched towards Islamabad chanting slogans against Nawaz Sharif and other leaders of the PML-N.

However, grouping within the party’s local chapter was visible as small rallies were brought out from different areas which did not join the main rally at the party’s offices near Sixth Road.

PTI Punjab north president Amir Kiani, PTI city president Chaudhry Asghar and MPA Ijaz Khan Jazi brought out a rally from the PTI office. However, MPA Mohammad Asif, MPA Rashid Hafeez and MPA Arif Abbasi reached the public meeting separately.

But the main rally was taken out from cantonment which was led by PTI Punjab north former general secretary Zahid Kazmi.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2017