GUJRANWALA: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif left Gujranwala for Lahore Saturday afternoon on the fourth day of his GT Road rally.
The former PM’s cavalcade made its first stopover at Kamoke, as eager supporters gathered on the route in hundreds to greet him.
Preparations to welcome the ousted prime minister in Lahore were in full swing, as locals decorated Shahdara Chowk and other venues with posters and banners of Nawaz Sharif.
Ravi Road, all the way from Shahdara to Daata Darbar, was closed to traffic from 9am onwards ahead of Nawaz’s arrival.
PML-N workers and supporters set up stages in different areas of the city as part of the preparations to greet the former PM.
Nawaz’s cavalcade, on its way to Lahore, will also pass through Muridke. It will then enter Lahore through Shahdara, where Nawaz will address the public.
A group of PML-N workers, led by Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif, reached Gujranwala from PML-N House Sialkot to welcome Nawaz earlier today.
Addressing a consultative meeting in Gujranwala before setting off for Lahore, Nawaz said the Supreme Court judges did not do justice to him.
“If not taking salary from my son is crime then taking salary from my son would also have been declared a crime,” he lamented, adding, “The decision to disqualify me was pre-planned.”
“It is about time the public’s votes are valued,” he said.
Meanwhile, City Traffic Police Lahore (CTPL) has issued a comprehensive traffic plan during the rally, which is expected to reach Lahore later in the day.
According to the plan, Gujranwala GT Road to Imamia Colony Phatak, Shahdara, Niazi Chowk, Timber Market, Azadi Flyover, U-turn, Peer Makki and Daata Darbar will remain closed for traffic. The commuters were directed to avoid travelling on GT Road and use the motorway instead.
The motorway will be opened for all kinds of traffic from Thokar Niaz Baig and Babu Sabu interchange. The Sagian Bridge will also be opened for motorists coming from Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Sheikhopura.
The Metro Bus service will be closed from Shahdara to MAO College, but will continue to run from MAO to Gajjumata.
Suspicious man arrested outside Daata Darbar
A suspicious man was arrested outside Daata Darbar on Saturday, police said, near a stage set to greet Nawaz Sharif upon his arrival in Lahore.
The man was transferred to an undisclosed location for interrogation, police added.
