'Mission GT Road': Nawaz Sharif's convoy leaves for Lahore
Nawaz Sharif's rally has crossed Zero Point and is on its way to Rawalpindi.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Cavalcade of disqualified prime minister Nawaz Sharif, who was ousted by Supreme Court (SC) under article 62 and 63 in Panama Leaks case, has reached Shamsabad on Murree Road on Wednesday pursuing ‘mission Grand Trunk (GT) Road’ to Lahore.
Thousands of PML-N supporters thronged the federal capital today to express solidarity and love for their ousted leader whereas camps have been formed all along the Grand Trunk Road to welcome the former premier.
According to the latest government reports, there are around 8,500 people present and at least 950 vehicles.
Nawaz Sharif‘s rally reached Faizabad after crossing Zero Point and more groups of PML-N supporters joined the cavalcade while on way to Rawalpindi. Reportedly, the ex-premier is to address the supporters while in Faizabad before leaving for Rawalpindi.
Former prime minister was initially scheduled to address party workers at D-Chowk, Kachehri Chowk but did not.
The former premier moved from his BMW four-wheeler to his makeshift private space formed out of a goods container and is continuing his ‘homecoming’.
See pictures of Nawaz’s private space for GT Road rally here
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PM Nawaz embarks on the journey from Punjab House, Islamabad
Sharif was seen off by PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Federal Minsiter for Finance Ishaq Dar
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) caravan will first reach D-Chowk from Punjab House and then will head towards Faizabaad through Blue Area and Zero Point. It will enter Rawalpindi via Murree Road from where it will depart for Lahore via GT Road.
He has been directed by the security personnel to not step out of the container due to security concerns.
Convoys of passionate PML-N supporters joining the cavalcade
PML-N leader Amir Muqam led a rally from Peshawar to Islamabad to join the cavalcade and while talking to the media, he said that the party workers live and die for Nawaz Sharif.
“The people are going along with Nawaz Sharif out of their love and loyalty with him. We are committed to the public and not to the opposition. Nawaz Sharif was PM and will also be in the future,” he maintained.
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PML-N’s consultative meeting ahead of GT Road march
It is reported that Nawaz Sharif chaired a consultative meeting of party workers ahead of the rally and discussed arrangements for his Lahore arrival and future agenda.
Former information minister Pervez Rashid, Asif Kirmani and Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb attended the meeting and gave their suggestions.
Preparations completed for PML-N rally
All arrangements were finalised as banners and posters were displayed on the route while the local administration granted permission for the rally as well.
The security plan was devised under which more than 6,000 security personnel have been deployed while all the areas around the route will be sealed as the cavalcade approaches.
Helipads have also been built in Gordon College in Rawalpindi and in ten other colleges of the district including Rawat and Gujar Khan to handle any untoward incident.
Nawaz Sharif will address party workers
The former premier will be addressing party workers at different points through the course of the journey that is going to be at least three-day long.
He will be addressing the workers in Jhelum, Gujrat and Gujranwala, as per reports.
Goats being sacrificed before departure of rally
Panamagate verdict
On April 20, Justice Asif Saeed Khosa had announced Panama Leaks case decision comprising of 540 pages, saying that the court issued a split ruling calling for a JIT. Two of the five judges went further, branding Sharif "dishonest" and saying he should be disqualified, but they were outnumbered.
The court formed a six-member inquiry team that included Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Additional Director General Wajid Zia, Military Intelligence’s Brig Kamran Khurshid, National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) Director Irfan Naeem Mangi, State Bank of Pakistan’s Amer Aziz, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan’s (SECP) Executive Director Bilal Rasool and Inter-Services Intelligence’s Brig Muhammad Nauman Saeed.
The JIT members during the seven-week period interrogated eight members of Sharif family including Nawaz Sharif, his younger brother Shehbaz Sharif, sons Hassan and Hussain Nawaz, daughter Maryam Nawaz, son-in-law Captain Safdar, cousin Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and brother-in-law Ishaq Dar and submitted its report on July 10.
On July 29, the five-judge larger bench of the Supreme Court headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and comprising Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, Justice Gulzar Ahmed, Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed and Justice Ijaz-ul-Ahsan after a week-long hearings unanimously disqualified Nawaz Sharif.
"It is hereby declared that having failed to disclose his un-withdrawn receivables constituting assets from Capital FZE Jebel Ali, UAE in his nomination papers filed for the General Elections held in 2013 in terms of Section 12(2)(f) of the Representation of the People Act, 1976 (ROPA), and having furnished a false declaration under solemn affirmation respondent No. 1 Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is not honest in terms of Section 99(f) of ROPA and Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 and therefore he is disqualified to be a Member of the Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament)."
The fresh PM for Pakistan
On August 2, President Mamnoon Hussain had administered oath to Shahid Khaqan Abbasi after he was elected as the leader of the House in National Assembly (NA) for 45 days by securing 221 votes.
On August 4, a 43-member new cabinet that included 27 federal and 16 state ministers took oath in a ceremony at Prime Minister House.
"Panama Papers" Fallout
Panama Papers had published a leak of documents belonging to Mossack Fonseca, a law firm in April 2016 creating uproar in Pakistan among other countries. The leak was studied by International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and stated names of incumbent as well as former leaders of the world who owned shell companies.
Opposition parties in Pakistan saw offshore companies as proof of money laundering done by Sharif family. Questions over the source of money used to purchase flats in London’s posh Mayfair locality by Sharif family were raised.
The top court took up the case in October last year on petitions filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Awami Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami.
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