PESHAWAR: Pakistan tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is all set to begin its Ehtesab (accountability) rally today.
All the preparations for the rally have been finalised and the organisers have also prepared a special container for PTI Chairman Imran Khan who would kick start the campaign and street movement against corruption from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) from Sunday.
Earlier, Adviser to Chief Minister on Law and Parliamentary Affairs Arif Yousaf said that he would lead his convoy of 100 vehicles from Qayyum Stadium Peshawar which would eventually join the main procession at Ring Road. Other lawmakers from Peshawar would also lead their party workers from their own constituencies to join the main rally.
A total of about 1,000 vehicles are expected to join the rally from Peshawar and Nowshera, however the number of vehicles may vary due to widespread enthusiasm among party workers from other districts. Naib Nazim Qasim Ali Shah who is in-charge of the rally arrangements had informed earlier that Imran would stay in Peshawar on Saturday night and launch his movement from Peshawar on Sunday.
He said that the main procession would start from Qayyum Stadium while PTI chairman would join the rally from GT Road Peshawar where all the participants would join to form a single procession. Special banners have also been displayed at various points in the city and main squares to mobilise the people for the rally.
Special Peshawari Chappal has been prepared for Imran and the container has been hired having air-condition and bathroom facilities. The PTI chairman would briefly address the party workers near Pir Zakori Sharif flyover in Chagalpura.
The convoy would also stay at Pabbi, Jhangira and Akora Khattak where Imran is expected to briefly address the participants. Tight security arrangements have been made for the convoy and the police would also escort Imran’s vehicle. Special party anthems and songs have been recorded for workers’ enthusiasm and DJ Butt has been invited to the occasion.
Participants from other parts of KP would join the rally at Mardan and Swabi and a large numbers of people are also expected to reach from Swat and Buner. However, women participation from Peshawar would likely be dim due to the repeated incidents of stampede, disorder and mismanagement in PTI rallies in the past.
On the other hand, to counter PTI’s strength at its homeground, Pakistan Muslim League-N (PMLN) is also prepared to stage its show of power in the provincial metropolis on Sunday, where the PTI would be launching its accountability movement.
The PMLN would hold its public gathering at Dalazak Chowk on Ring Road. Its formal proceedings would begin around 3pm. Adviser to Prime Minister Ameer Muqam and provincial office bearers of the party would be the main speakers. The PMLN, which has been in power at the Centre, has challenged PTI for the first time on its home-pitch. The proceedings of the PTI’s show of power would start in the afternoon as well.
Sources have said that the PMLN leadership is likely to criticise the PTI’s performance as its slogan for today’s public meeting is ‘no sit-ins, we want work only’. The PMLN is a strong political force in Hazara region of the province and also has a sizable presence at the NA-4 constituency in Peshawar, where it would hold its public gathering.
The PMLN leadership would shed light on the steps taken by the federal government so far, for the progress and development of the people of the country, particularly the China-pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project and other energy projects as well as the elimination of militancy to a great extent.
Moreover, it would likely denounce PTI for not fulfilling the promises that it had made before elections especially bringing change in the fortunes of the people of the province, which according to the ruling PMLN are invisible despite the lapse of more than three years of the PTI government in the province.
In today’s public meeting, PMLN would ask people of the province not to believe in the sit-ins anymore, because it would make no change at all. The PTI chairman however has said that Tehreek-e-Ehtesab is primarily demanding for probing Panama Papers’ leaks.
