It’s the beginning of the end of bogus government, says Maryam
Warns police not to cross public’s way: Leaves for Gujranwala amid route uncertainty
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'Beginning of the end'
7:00 pm: On her arrival in Shahdara on Friday evening, Maryam Nawaz said she was seeing a sea of people around her and that she had not anticipated this. She said the Gujranwala public meeting of the opposition parties was the beginning of the end of the PTI-led government. On the other hand, the provincial government accused Maryam of violating the agreement with the government. As per the agreement, the government said, Maryam was not supposed to deliver a speech in Shahdrara or anywhere on her way to Gujranwala.
Nawaz fighting people’s war
5:11 pm: Maryam Nawaz in a tweet shared a picture of some charged party workers moving towards Gujranwala in an old pickup, saying Nawaz Sharif is fighting their war.
نوازشریف ان کی جنگ لڑ رہا ہے ! pic.twitter.com/JKraqlKsMm
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 16, 2020
In a separate tweet, she mentioned that “Shehbaz Sharif and Hamza, my brother, sent their personal security and cars” for her. They were in prison but still worried about her, she said and prayed for their early release.
Shahbaz Sharif and Hamza my brother sent their personal security and cars for me. Jail main baithay bhi meri fikar. May you be back with us soonest Insha’Allah.
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 16, 2020
Police to be held accountable: Dar
4:45 pm: PML-N leader Ishaq Dar said the police and administration should keep it their mind that they would have to be held accountable for blocking roads by placing containers besides arresting and committing excesses against the PML-N and PPP workers.
پولیس اور انتظامیہ اس بات کو ملحوظ خاطر رکھے کہ جو راستے میں کنٹینرز اور رکاوٹیں رکھ رہے ہیں اور جو گرفتاریاں اور زیادتیاں وہ گوجرانوالہ جلسہ میں جانے والے PMLN اور PDM ورکرز کے ساتھ کر رہے ہیں، اُن کو اِن سب کا حساب دینا پڑے گا۔
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) October 16, 2020
Maryam's tweet
4:24 pm: Maryam Nawaz posts a tweet in which she narrated the entire episode including how the road was blocked and how her supporters dealt with the situation. The incident happened at Adda Plot near Ring Road.
Live pic.twitter.com/AW8zzWPgdZ
— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) October 16, 2020
Judge orders removal of hurdles
4:20 pm: The Gujranwala Additional Sessions Judge orders the administration to remove all the barriers placed on roads in the city. In this connection, PML-N leader Khurram Dastgir posted a tweet.
بریکنگ نیوز
— Engr. Khurram Dastgir-Khan (@kdastgirkhan) October 16, 2020
ایڈیشنل سیشن جج گوجرانوالہ
نے انتظامیہ کو گوجرانوالہ کی سڑکوں سے
بھاری کنٹینر
فوری طور پر اٹھانے کی ہدایت کردی pic.twitter.com/OAcHOuXsIK
Rana Sana warning
4:00 pm: Describing the barriers placed on roads as illegal, PML-N Punjab President Rana Sanaullah in Gujranwala warned that they would remove the barriers and containers themselves if the administration failed to do so in 30 minutes.
Addressing a press conference, Rana Sana assured the administration that rally would be peaceful and remarked that they wanted to get rid of Covid-18 instead of Covid-19.
مریم اورنگزیب شیرنی ۔۔۔۔۔
— عمیر ملک (@umairiat) October 16, 2020
https://t.co/OLQy55BWag
Workers first
3:58 pm: Maryam Nawaz stopped her SUV in front of a container on the road. Fearing that the rally may be stopped if she passes through first, the PML-N leader said she would be the last one to go through this point.
Later, the PML-N supporters removed all the barricades while the rally was diverted towards the Ring Road instead of moving towards Thokar Niaz Beg.
Meanwhile, the police have already blocked Bund Road near Niazi Adda to force her use motorway instead of passing through the city.
PDM Rally/Jalsa live transmission https://t.co/qPECoKgonK
— PMLN (@pmln_org) October 16, 2020
Ahsan Iqbal leads caravan
3:51 pm: PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal managed to overcome all the hurdles and barricades, his rally is leading the caravan of supporters for the Gujranwala rally.
At least 200 cars and other vehicles were part of the rally that left Narowal amid a large contingent of police deputed along the route.
گوجرانوالہ کی طرف گامزن
— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) October 16, 2020
PMLN کے شیروں کو کون روک سکتا ہے pic.twitter.com/bpNQcPOvM9
https://twitter.com/AhmadNarowal/status/1317053248705015809
The district administration and police had placed containers and parked heavy vehicles on the roads in the city including the exit points. But the charged PML-N workers remained deterred and removed everything coming in their way.
Shahdara crowd
3:45pm: Thousands of PML-N supporters are gathering at Shahdara to welcome Maryam Nawaz who has left Jati Umra with hundreds of vehicles in her convoy.
Rally on foot
3:23pm: People in the PML-N have started walking on foot towards their destination amid roadblocks in Gujrat.
Captain clears the way
3:15pm: Capt Safdar left the SUV he was driving for Maryam Nawaz. He is trying to clear the road so that the rally could move forward.
Actual rally to be held outside the venue: Saad
3:10 pm: Leading a large rally from the DHA area to Thokar Niaz Beg, Khawaja Saad Rafique said the actual rally would be held outside the Jinnah Stadium, adding that Imran Khan had panicked.
Imran Khan has nothing except lies and deceit, he remarked and said the people were joining the rally with their own passion.
Maryam the leader
3:00pm: PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz on Friday afternoon started her journey for Gujranwala to attend the opposition rally, saying she was embarking on the mission as a foot soldier of Nawaz Sharif.
“I have dedicated myself to your struggle, your mission for Pakistan and its people. May Allah be with us and may we return triumphant and victorious Insha’Allah,” she said while addressing the party supremo.
“Long Live Pakistan” were the words she used to end her tweet before leaving her Jati Umra residence around 2pm.
Maryam was greeted by a large number of supporters gathered outside. In a short address, she appealed the administration and police that their struggle is for their rights. “Don’t come in the way of people.”
“This rally is the beginning of the end of bogus government which will not see December,” she remarked and added, “We have come out on the streets for the rights of 220 million people.
Earlier, the PML-N workers removed one of the containers placed on a road leading to Jati Umra, Raiwind.
Meanwhile, there is uncertainty about the route the rally would take for the journey to attend the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rally.
There are reports that talks were held between the PML-N and the government officials, which proved futile. The PML-N leaders were told that the rally should not enter the Lahore city and use the motorway.
However, the party leaders refused to contact the higher provincial political leadership.
It is worth noting that the PML-N has established at multiple spots along the GT Road. A large number of party supporters are even present at Bund Road within the city to join the rally.
Ready for lathis, bullets
2:30pm: PML-N Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal in Narowal told a press conference that they were ready to face bullets and batons but would not backtrack.
The government was showing authoritarianism which was condemnable, he added.