The Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday rescheduled its long march against the government, delaying it for two days.
The decision was made in a meeting chaired by Leader of the Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif.
The long march would now arrive in the federal capital on March 28 instead of March 27 and would depart from Lahore on March 26, the party said in a statement.
The PML-N, citing the reason for delaying the march, said that the crucial session of the National Assembly was called on Friday. “The long march will fulfil the wishes of the people who are facing the worst inflation and unemployment,” Shehbaz said while chairing the meeting.
Shehbaz, during the meeting, instructed the organisers to ensure the best possible coordination at all levels so that the long march can be managed smoothly.
The long march will be proof of the people’s no-confidence against this government, he added. The meeting was attended by former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, PML-N’s Secretary General Ahsan Iqbal, PML-N Punjab chief Rana Sanaullah, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Maryam Aurangzeb and Sardar Awais Laghari.
According to the new schedule, the march will leave from PML-N Model Town secretariat on the 26th. Now, it will reach the federal capital on the 28th or 29th, depending on the situation. Earlier, the long march was scheduled to reach Islamabad on 27th, the same day when Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had also planned to hold its power show.
There was a fear of a clash between the workers of PML-N and PTI because both had announced rallies on the same day. The Supreme Court of Pakistan also expressed this fear. It seems that the PML-N has made a change in its plan to appease the apex court, as it is hearing important petitions directly connected with the no-trust motion against the premier.
As per the new plan, the PML-N will hold power shows in Gujranwala, Sarai-e-Alamgir, and Rawalpindi before entering the federal capital. The march would be led by PML-N Vice-President Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Leader of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz.
According to sources privy to the developments, the PML-N postponed its march as it is awaiting the announcement of the government’s allies. The allies of the government are expected to make their announcement regarding their plan on a no-trust motion against the prime minister before the session of the National Assembly.
A day earlier, Pakistan Democratic Movement head Maulana Fazlur Rehman claimed that the allies have made up their minds to support the motion of the opposition against the government, saying they will formally announce it in a day or two.
Meanwhile, the joint opposition issued a “charter for the people” to mark Pakistan Day.
The opposition parties, in a statement, said they were committed to provide a “better Pakistan” upon the success of the no-trust motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.
