MULTAN - Makhdoom Javed Hashmi’s switchover to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) turned out to be a political Tsunami for Multan as everyone, whether it was a common man on the street or a journalist, a lawyer or political worker or civil society activist, kept discussing it throughout the day.
Contrasting reactions were seen in different areas of Multan. A string of pro and anti-Hashmi demonstrations took place in the town. If on one hand PTI workers burst into jubilations, on the other hand the PML-N workers took to the streets and staged demonstrations against Hashmi.
At least seven demonstrations were staged by N-League workers while four by the PTI and Muttahida Shehri Mahaaz in favour of Hashmi. The annoyed PML-N workers burnt Javed Hashmi’s effigies and water ewer (lota) to express their anger. Similarly, the PTI workers and activists of Muttahida Shehri Mahaaz distributed sweets and danced to the drumbeats.
The political observers declare this change a major shift in political landscape of Multan, predicting that it will leave adverse impacts on N-League in entire South Punjab region in the days to come. “You may consider it the first hole in the bottom of a vessel. It’s gonna expand to a horrible extent in the coming days,” observed an analyst while commenting on Hashmi’s switchover.
Holding placards, banners and water pots in their hands, the participants of a demonstration against Hashmi shouted slogans against him like: “Aik Ghaddar Aadmi, Hashmi Hashmi.” They burnt tyres and blocked roads. The major demo was led by provincial minister Haji Ehsan Uddin Qureshi at Chowk Hussain Agahi. Similarly, another protest was held at Chowk Nawan Shehr under the leadership of Rana Sajjad and Sarwar Manj. The workers of N League women wing, MSF activists and Labour wing workers also staged demonstrations in different areas. The participants of all demonstrations exhibited same sentiments as they burnt Hashmi’s posters, burnt his effigies and shouted slogans against him.
On the other hand, PTI and MSM workers held demonstrations in favour of Javed Hashmi at Chungi No-9, Vehari Chowk, under the leadership of Rasheed Khan Lashari, Jamshed Tareen and Maroof Khan. They raised slogans like: “Aik Bahadur Aadmi, Hashmi Hashmi.” They also distributed sweets.