LAHORE: The PML-N has opted to call off three scheduled rallies in Lahore, which were initially planned to boost the momentum leading up to the homecoming of Nawaz Sharif, the party’s leader, on October 21. This decision appears to be aimed at preventing their party workers from becoming exhausted before the major event.
As per a senior PML-N leader in Punjab, this choice was made under the direct guidance of Nawaz Sharif himself, who is expected to arrive in Lahore later this month and deliver a speech at Minar-i-Pakistan.
“Nawaz Sharif instructed party president Shehbaz Sharif not to overexert the party workers in anticipation of his return. He emphasized that party leaders should continue conducting corner meetings and maintain close coordination with the workers to ensure a historic homecoming,” explained the PML-N leader to Private Media.
Amid rumors of internal discord within the party, the PML-N’s supreme leader also tasked the junior Sharif with promptly resolving any disputes among certain leaders in Punjab, especially within the Lahore chapter, in order to ensure the success of the October 21 event.
Originally, there were plans for three rallies in Lahore, to be held in the constituencies of Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Rana Mashhood, and Riaz Malik, aimed at generating enthusiasm for Nawaz Sharif’s homecoming. Maryam Nawaz, the chief organizer, was slated to address these rallies in Lahore.
The PML-N had initially planned seven rallies in Lahore, but it had already canceled two rallies earlier this month. Now, the remaining three gatherings have also been called off.
“After the Thokar Niaz Baig rally on Sunday, during which the Lahore chapter of PML-N had to invest considerable efforts to put up a relatively stronger performance in comparison to the Shahdara rally, the leadership received feedback that it would be wiser not to further drain the resources of both chapters before October 21,” revealed an insider from the party.
“As PML-N Lahore President Saiful Malook Khokhar reportedly succeeded in drawing people from the ‘underprivileged’ areas of his constituency during the Thokar Niaz Baig rally, the party had concerns that Saad Rafique or Rana Mashhood might face challenges in attracting a large crowd in their constituencies, something the party couldn’t risk.”
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
