Jiyalas head to Bagh-e-Jinnah for PPP rally

KARACHI: The stage is set for the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah near the Quaid’s mausoleum where party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is expected to deliver a ‘historic’ address to workers arriving from across the country.

The venue was thoroughly checked for security clearance after which it has been opened for public. Strict security measures have been taken to avoid any untoward situation.

The rally will begin at 3 PM and it is expected that the event will continue late till the evening as PPP leaders from other parts of the country will address prior to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

The PPP chairman is first expected to visit the PPP martyrs’ monument at Karsaz prior to arriving at the rally.

Organisers of the rally said seating arrangements have been made for 100,000 in the ground while 50,000 more chairs will be placed adjacent to the venue at Shahrah-e-Quaideen. Bilawal will deliver his address from a stage 20 feet high and 40 feet wide.

The provincial government has declared a public holiday in Karachi today to mark the annual Urs of Hazrat Abdullah Shah Ghazi.

A state of the art mobile control room will be used to operate the cameras installed throughout the venue of the rally. The use of drone cameras has also been prohibited. 22,500 policemen will be deployed for security at the rally while additional contingents of Rangers have also been called. The overall security of the rally will be supervised by IGP Sindh, Ghullam Qadir Thebo.

At least five walk-through gates will be sued for screening people entering and leaving the venue, out of which two will be designated for women and VIP participants. Similar walk-through gates have been setup at a number of sensitive points near the rally venue.

Around 2,000 PPP activists and volunteers will be deployed to provide security inside Bagh-e-Jinnah,

Traffic Diversions

Traffic from Saddar Dawakhana and Corridor Three till Khudadad Flyover and Peoples Chowrangi will be closed.

The road from Capri Cinema on MA Jinnah road will also be closed. Traffic from Shara-e-Faisal to Shara-e-Quaideen will be diverted towards Regent Plaza and Lucky Star from where vehicles can reach MA Jinnah Road. Vehicles from this point can make a left turn towards Naz Plaza and then turn right near Coast Guard Street passing through Bahadar Yar Jang Road, Holy Family Hospital, Soldier Bazaar and head towards Lasbela and Nazimabad.

Vehicles traveling from University Road to MA Jinnah Road can use Nipa Chowrangi, Drig Road, Shara-e-Faisal, Hasan Square, National Stadium and Karsaz.

Traffic from Soharb Goth to Teen Hati, Saddar and Cantt will turn left from Teen Hati towards Jail Chowrangi, Shaheed-e-Milat Road, Shara-e-Faisal and Baloch Colony. Traffic from Nazimabad to Saddar or Cantt will turn right on Lasbela Chowk towards Garden and Makki Masjid.

Parking Plan

The over 9,000 vehicles coming to Karachi from Hyderabad District will be parked at National Stadium, National Coaching Center, Tipu Sultan Road, Baloch Colony, China Ground, Kashmir Road, KMC Sports Complex, Noor Ground and Khalid bin Waleed Road.

Vehicles from Mirpurkhas district will be parked at Stadium Road next to Aga Khan Hospital and Home Economics College.

4,000 vehicles from Larkana Division will be parked at Civic Center Road and Hasan Square Milk Plant. Vehicles from Sukkur Division will be parked at Jail Loop, Dawood Engineering College, Islamia College, from Jail Chowrangi to Medicare Shaheed-e-Milat Road and Khatoon-e-Pakistan College.

Other designated parking areas in the city include: SRTC Ground, Gul Plaza, the plot opposite Karachi Grammar School, BMB School, Railway Ground, City Station, Army Welfare Trust Ground, FTC Building, Railway Ground Kala Pul, Kokan Ground Gulshan-e-Iqbal and YMCA Ground.