Large number of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activists and supporters have gathered at Libery Chowk Lahore to participate in “Haqeeqi Azadi’ march to seek fresh elections. The march has been started from Lahore's Liberty Chowk where crowds were already seen gathering. Former interior minister Sheikh Rashid said he would be joining the march as well, and expressed optimism that "the nation will come out" and that "an election date would be acquired".

Echoing Rashid's optimism, senior party leader Shireen Mazari emphatically stated that even the highest authorities will be compelled to announce an election date if the nation marched to Islamabad.  “We are even more energised after yesterday’s press conference,” Mazari said in response to a question if Thursdday’s unprecedented press talk, by the chiefs of the country’s premier intelligence agency and the military’s media wing, had dampened their spirit. PTI leader Hammad Azhar shared that he was already making his way to the meeting point.

Supporters could be seen riding along his car on their motorcycles carrying party flags. Meanwhile, Yasmeen Rashid was also seen rallying support ahead of the march. She is reportedly also making her way to Liberty. Earlier, Fawad Chaudhry had urged Lahore's citizens to come out onto the streets and join the march, saying "if you do not come out today, then you should not have any complaints about this system". "If you want to change this system, come out of your home, otherwise the lives of children It will also be spent in this rotten system," he added.

On the other hand Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has warned that those who “attack” the federal capital will be "met with such dire consequences that no one will ever think of committing such an act again”. While speaking to the media in Islamabad, the minister said that the government was prepared to deal with anyone attempting to break the law with an iron fist.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-INP