PTI Lahore power show abruptly ends as city admin intervenes after deadline – SUCH TV
The PTI’s much-awaited Lahore power show seemingly met an anti-climactic end as lights went out and police personnel cleared the stage after the 6pm deadline expired following some speeches from leaders to supporters at Kahna in the provincial capital’s Ring Road area on Saturday.
Footage showed PTI supporters and leaders clearing the stage, leaving it empty.
Earlier, supporters took out their cellphones and used them to light up the rally venue while the party announced on its YouTube livestream that even the sound system was turned off due to the conditions of the no-objection certificate.
“The last breaths of the revolution! At 6:38pm,” said Punjab minister Marriyum Aurangzeb in a dig at the party rally while sharing images of the empty stage.
Similarly, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari termed the event the “PTI’s funeral”.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub had not arrived at the venue by the time of the deadline’s expiry. Gandapur later managed to reach the venue.
Addressing a press conference soon after the rally’s end, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar called it a “flop” and said the PTI failed to deliver on its promises.
“They talked a lot about the Lahore rally and promised so much. Just like in Islamabad, the Lahore rally flopped.”
The minister maintained that all roads in the provincial metropolis were open and the PTI had “free access” to enter the city.
“Ali Amin Gandapur came via the M2 and was never stopped at Attock,” Tarar said.
“We gave them a free hand and ensured their security. Even with all this preparation and after all this time, they failed to galvanise their followers from across the country,” Tarar said, alleging that PTI’s supporters “want the nation to fail” and that they have nothing to protest about.
“Inflation is now in single digits, why are you taking out protests? The PTI want to spread destruction and anarchy across Pakistan,” the minister said.
