PTI all set for massive show at Minar-i-Pakistan

LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is all set to flex its political muscles at Minar-i-Pakistan today.

All arrangements have been finalized for the party’s public meeting with more than 30, 000 chairs placed at the spacious venue of Minar-i-Pakistan lawns.

The provincial capital of Punjab, the stronghold of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), has been festooned with party flags, banners and streamers portraying  PTI chief Imran Khan and other party leaders.

History will be written at Minar-i-Pakistan today: Imran

A 120-feet long and 60-feet wide stage has been set up for the party leaders at the venue decorated with party merchandise.

The PTI’s public meeting comes a day after PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif addressed a rally in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mardan city, the province where the Imran Khan-led party has been in power for around five years now.

PTI Chairman Imran, who arrived in Lahore a day earlier, said he will announce 10 points of party manifesto, focusing on the steps that it would take if elected into power to turn the country’s economy around.

He also visited the venue of the rally last night. Speaking to media he said this rally would be “mother of all public meetings.”

He said he had never seen such “junnoon” at the venue a night before the scheduled meeting.

Previously, the PTI had held massive public rallies at the same venue in 2011 and 2014. This time around, organizers also expect much bigger show.

The PTI chief has asked party workers all over the province to attend the mass meeting and also bring more people to the rally.

More stringent security arrangements have been made to ensure that the event passes off peacefully. Thousands of policemen have been deployed at different places around the venue and routes leading to it.

A special traffic plan has been put in place for participants arriving in Lahore from other cities.