Daily Times

LAHORE: In a first, all main political parties in the city, including the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) celebrated 70th Independence Day of Pakistan by holding rallies in different parts of the city on Monday.

All political parties also hoisted national flags on the buildings of their offices.

The PML-N rally was led by provincial minister Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman. Dozens of motorists participated in the rally while party workers were chanting slogans in favour of their central leadership. Earlier, the national flag at the PML-N office in Model Town was also hoisted.

The PML-N also officially launched its election campaign by inaugurating an office on Abdali Road where provincial minister Bilal Yasin and MPA Majid Zahoor cut a cake to celebrate Independence Day.

Talking to the gathering, Bilal Yasin expressed hoped that the PML-N would win NA-120 by-election with a thumping majority. He also instructed party workers to actively participate in the election campaign.

Meanwhile, the PIT held three big rallies in the city. The first rally – led by Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mian Aslam Iqbal and Waleed Iqbal – was started from Mozang Chungi and culminated at Azadi Chowk. A rally and a public meeting was also organised at Rehmat Haveli in Shahdara Town that was addressed by Dr Yasmin Rashid, Chaudhry Sarwar, Yasir Gilani, Shafqat Mehmood and Opposition Leader in Punjab Assembly Mian Mehmoodur Rasheed.

Speaking on the occasion, PTI leaders said that “corruption bachao inqilab” would be allowed to succeed at any cost. They said that those who would try to eliminate articles 62 and 63 from the constitution would be considered as national criminals.

Earlier, the PTI also inaugurated its office in Sanat Nagar to run election campaign for the upcoming NA-120 by-poll. On the occasion, the national flag was also hoisted to celebrate Independence Day.

The PPP also organised flag-hoisting ceremonies at the party’s offices in Model Town and Youhanabad. PPP Punjab vice president Aslam Gill and Lahore chapter president Azizur Rehman Chan were the chief guests, who later addressed the gathering and said that they would fully participate in the NA-120 by-election.

A rally to mark Independence Day was also organised by the PML-Q from the Muslim League House to the Lahore Press Club.

Published in Daily Times, August 15^th 2017.