Live Updates: Nawaz Sharif’s caravan on way to Rawalpindi
3:15 pm - The caravan has covered a distance of 8.5 kilometres in more than three hours.
The PML-N plans to stretch the rally over at least three days in order to show its ‘popularity’ among the masses.
At least 20 to 25 National Assembly constituencies fall along the GT Road, besides around 15 constituencies of Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
Nawaz Sharif is scheduled to address public meetings at almost all major and small towns falling on the route which included towns of Gujjar Khan, Dina, Kharian, Sarai Alamgir, Wazirabad, Kamonki and Muridke.
3:00 pm - The procession being led by Nawaz Sharif has reached Faizabad Interchange while its tail is touching the Zero Point. Faizabad Interchange is the main gateway between the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
2:30 pm - Government reports say there are 900 to 1000 vehicles and five to six thousand people in the procession.
Video: Watch how many people are at PML-N caravan
1:15 pm - Nawaz Sharif is not in the bulletproof container, as earlier expected. His motorcade moved onto Jinnah Avenue from D-Chowk in Islamabad and later headed to Khyber Chowk en route to Lahore.
1:10 pm - The PML-N caravan, on its way to Lahore, reached Jinnah Avenue.
1:10 pm - Nawaz Sharif’s caravan reaches Islamabad’s Blue Area. It was welcomed by a large number of PML-N supporters.
12:50 pm - Nawaz Sharif briefly spoke to Samaa before leaving Punjab House. “Shahbaz Sharif is the honour of Pakistan. He made Punjab a role model for the country and he has yet much more to do,” Sharif said,
12:45 pm - The state protocol is for PM Abbasi who came to meet Nawaz Sharif whereas the ex-PM is just being given a politician’s security that is state’s responsibility: Ahsan Iqbal
12:45 pm - “Our opponents are worried over what we are doing. They have awakened a sleeping genie,” Ahsan Iqbal.
12:10 pm - Nawaz Sharif’s caravan reaches Express Chowk near the D-Chowk. The caravan will later head to Zero Point. Pace of the caravan is too slow, nearly 5 km/hour. It's expected that the rally will reach Lahore in 72 hours.
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11:45 am - Carrying party flags, a large number of PML-N workers reached Punjab House to accompany their leader Nawaz Sharif in the GT Road rally.
11:40 am - Nawaz Sharif left Punjab House to kick off his GT Road journey. He has been given Prime Minister’s protocol as the ex-PM is accompanied by serving Prime Minister.
Video: Nawaz Sharif’s political container ready to hit GT Road
11:25 am - Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi reached Punjab House, Islamabad, where Nawaz Sharif held consultation with cabinet members and senior PML-N leaders, including Ahsan Iqbal, Ishaq Dar, Zafar Iqbal Jhagra, AJK Prime Minister Raja Haider, Governor Punjab Rafique Rajwana and others.
Video: Innocent police officer ‘reveals’ Nawaz Sharif protocol
11:00 am - PML-N workers have started converging at various points in Rawalpindi and Islamabad to welcome Nawaz Sharif. The supporters gathered at Faizabad, Committee Chowk, Kutchery Chowk, Soan and Rawat on GT Road.
10:40 am - A large stage have been set up at Committee Chowk of Islamabad where Nawaz Sharif will address his supporters during the rally. It will be the caravan’s first stop on way to Lahore.
10:30 am - Police have forcefully closed several private offices in various areas of Islamabad, including in the Blue Area before the start of Nawaz Sharif’s rally: Samaa reported
10:10 am - Protocol Route was put in place for Prime Minister at Islamabad’s Jinnah Avenue. It seems that Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi will accompany Nawaz Sharif in the caravan. A police officer told Samaa that the protocol is not meant for Nawaz Sharif.
10:00 am - Ex-PM Nawaz Sharif held consultation with his party leaders and senior colleagues, including cabinet members, at the Punjab House camp office before leaving for Lahore.
9:30 am - A caravan led by PML-N’s KP President Amir Muqam left Peshawar to join the Lahore-bound rally.
Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is expected to leave his Punjab House camp office around 11am today (Wednesday) to lead PML-N’s cavalcade from Islamabad to Lahore on historic GT Road.
While travelling from Lahore to Islamabad in a luxury bomb-proof container, the ex-PM will enjoy the protocol accorded to a sitting prime minister.
Sharif is adamant to travel despite security concerns.
While travelling through the twin cities, the rally will reach Murree Road from Faizabad Interchange. Nawaz Sharif will address his supporters at various points from Islamabad to Lahore.
Reports suggested that his brother Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan were among several close figures who warned the ousted PM against proceeding to Lahore by road.
Sharif is said to have ignored their advice; however, he sent his wife Kulsoom and daughter Maryam to Lahore a day before his own departure.
About the security plan, officials said more than 4000 police personnel, including Elite Force commandos, will be deployed along route of the rally.
To deal with any emergency situation, the provincial health department has issued a ‘high alert’ in all hospitals along the GT Road. Ambulances, medicines, doctors and paramedical staff have been put on standby.
Rally Route Plan
Islamabad Traffic Police has announced its route plan for the rally.
According to the plan, the road from Jinnah Avenue Express Chowk to F-8 Exchange and Express Highway from Faisal Chowk to Khanna Pul will remain closed for traffic.
The people, who want to travel to Blue Area have been asked to use service roads on both sides. The traffic coming from Karal will move to Khanna Pull,
Lehtrar Road, Burma Chowk, Park Road, Rawal Dam and then to Murree Road. –
Thanks to Samaa
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