Thousands of charged workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) stormed into federal capital on Friday from various parts of the country ahead of arrival of their main convoys which had left Lahore for the federal capital on August 14. The workers of both the parties, majority of them belonging to PTI, stayed under an open sky throughout the day, chanting slogans, removing containers, making signs, and dancing to the tune of party songs despite heavy showers later in the evening.
The discipline of PTI workers was worth mentioning as they remained peaceful despite reports of a mob attack on Azadi March's participants at Gujranwala, a stronghold of the ruling party. Idress Khan, a PTI supporter, said that it might be next to impossible to give the exact number, but at least there would be 100,000 people in Imran's caravan. He said the government blocked all roads leading towards Islamabad in a bid to stop the marchers coming from Peshawar. However, people managed to reach the capital by removing all the obstacles. Wearing shirts of party flags carrying Imran Khan's pictures, they were dancing to the runes of national and party songs and chanting 'New Pakistan' slogans fervently. All the participants made food and other arrangements by themselves as the PTI had not provided food, water and other facilities to its workers who have arrived from far-flung areas of the country. However, the local administration made arrangements for providing clean drinking water to protestors.
The PTI also set up hundreds of makeshift toilets on the green-belt alongside the Kashmir Highway and Capital Development Authority (CDA) is also busy in making arrangements for the provision of water to the participants of 'Azadi March'. Riding in a decorated jeep with PTI flags and lights, two tribesmen - Mustan Khan and Ubaidullah - from North Waziristan Agency (NWA) - have also arrived in the federal capital to participate in the PTI protest.
The government markets, banks, schools and private offices remained shut. The government offices remained open with woefully low attendance. Apart from Zero Point and its surrounding areas, different residential sectors of the federal capital wore a deserted look as majority of the residents preferred to stay indoors. They were of the view that uncertainty prevails in the city due to PTI and PAT rallies and any untoward incident can happen in the presence of thousands of the protestors.
According to sources in interior ministry, around 40,000 PTI workers have so far reached the capital while PTI chairman Imran Khan has been accompanied by around 30,000 workers. There is also a concern within the local administration that the increasing number of marchers could create problems for the authorities as the total strength of the security personnel of different agencies is 36,000.
The sources said the city administration allowed PTI to set up a stage near Aabpara Chowk on the Kashmir Highway; however, they will not be allowed to move beyond the highway and the routes frin Aabpara to all other main areas would remain sealed and off-limits to them.
On the other hand permission has been granted to PAT to stage protest at Faisal Avenue. But there are reports that both the parties would opt for a joint venue to exert more pressure on the government. The sources further said cellular phone service will remain suspended partially. The administration has unblocked the entry points of capital from Zero Point and Expressway. The PTI workers also removed some containers placed at Aabpara Chowk.