RAWALPINDI – As the disqualified PM Nawaz Sharif is rallying towards his hometown from Murree with thousands of his supporters, satirical pamphlets carrying political messages against the judiciary are also making a big show.
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These pamphlets contain an indirect mockery of the Supreme Court’s bench that had in July announced the Panamagate case verdict against Mr Sharif, leading to an abrupt and embarrassing end of his third term in PM office.
Some eight thousand people are are accompanying the former premier throughout the journey, whereas thousands are expected to receive and see off their leader at the borders of their respective constituencies.
Punjab Government helicopters are also being used to drop the pamphlets regarding Nawaz Sharif’s Iqama which brought him down, according to media reports.
On July 28, the Supreme Court sent Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif packing for not being ‘honest’ – a prerequisite for eligibility to the chief executive’s office, enshrined in Article 62 of the Constitution.
The ex-PM and his legal team insists he has been disqualified on ‘flimsy grounds’ as they say though the ousted prime minister was designated chairman in his younger son’s company Capital FZE, he did not draw any salary from the company.
The purpose of the arrangement, explained the counsel, was solely to secure an iqama – a UAE work visa – which would allow the prime minister easy access to the Gulf state “in his years in exile”.
The ‘homecoming’ rally that kicked off from Punjab House in Islamabad around noon on Wednesday, is likely to culminate in Lahore on Thursday night.
Tight security preparations have been made along GT road, with the deployment of plain-clothed policemen as well as elite force commandos. A helicopter is also following the procession to provide security to the former PM’s convoy.
Nawaz will reportedly address his supporters in Jhelum in the evening and stay overnight at a local hotel before continuing his journey to Lahore the next day.
