The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf took out a rally to mark the Defence Day and honour the martyrs who gave their lives for Pakistan. This rally also marks the start of party's campaign for By-election in NA-122 and PP-147.
A large number of party workers led by Punjab organiser Chaudhary Mohammad Sarwar, Lahore organiser Shafqat Mahmood candidates Abdul Aleem Khan and Shoaib Siddiqui chanted slogans - "Go Nawaz Go", "Rigging unacceptable", "Kaun Bachaeyga Pakistan - Imran Khan", "Prime Minister Imran Khan" and other party slogans. The rally started from Samanabad and participants were carrying banners, placards, party and national flags and portraits of party leaders. Addressing the rally participants, Chaudhary Sarwar said the PTI has started its campaign to participate in the by election and claimed that the party will surprise the PML-N in these elections. He said that the PML-N candidates' by-election campaign was being run by the Punjab police and bureaucracy and they are spending public money lavishly. Still, he said, the PML-N will not be able to fulfil its dreams in the by-elections as well as in the local bodies' elections. Chaudhary Sarwar said that the Election Commission of Pakistan, which is currently playing the role of a silent spectator, to take notice of the lavish spending from the national exchequer. Otherwise, he said, the PTI will be compelled to come out on roads to protest against the inabilities of the ECP.
MNA Shafqat Mahmood and MPA Mian Aslam Iqbal said that the PML-N had rested its all hopes on rigging and now is using police and bureaucracy to rig the elections but the PTI will never let it be successful in its nefarious designs. Candidates Abdul Aleem Khan and Shoaib Siddiqui said that the whole PTI leaders, office-bearers, workers and supporters were united under the leadership of Imran Khan and spreading his message at every doorstep. He said that the PML-N's rigging politics will soon be wiped out of Pakistan.