Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif received a warm welcome from thousands of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supporters at Bara Kahu on Saturday on his return from Murree.

Nawaz Sharif came out of his car at Uthaal Chowk and responded to a huge crowd of charged PML-N activists by waving his hand. It took more than 30 minutes to his convoy, that included his family members, to cross the three kilometre long Bara Kahu Bazaar. Thousands of PML-N workers gathered along both sides of the road raised slogans in favour of their leader.

Shops along the route had been closed. People climbed buildings along the route to have a glimpse of the ousted leader.

According to details, people had started gathering along the route of Nawaz Sharif when they heard that he was returning to Islamabad. The area is the constituency of Minister of State Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.

The PML-N supporters raised slogans in favour of Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz and other family members.

The PML-N workers wanted the former PM to address them. However, Nawaz Sharif came out of his vehicle for a few minutes to respond to the slogans and was advised by the security personnel not to remain out of the vehicle for long due to security concerns.

Strict security arrangements had been made by the police all along the route of the convoy. Nawaz Sharif was driven to Islamabad by his son Hussain Nawaz. They then reached the Punjab House, where he will stay.

On the other hand, preparations are underway to welcome Nawaz Sharif in Lahore. Security has also been beefed up as more than 8,000 police officers and 50 teams of Elite Force will be deployed at various locations to avoid any untoward situation.

Nawaz Sharif will travel to Lahore via the GT Road and is likely to address supporters at various points. Sources said the PML-N had planned to turn the journey into a public mobilisation campaign and Sharif would interact and address party workers as a sign of strength.

This was Nawaz Sharif’s first visit to Islamabad after being disqualified by the Supreme Court (SC) in the Panama Papers case.

Published in Daily Times, August 6^th 2017.