Parties good wishes for Mohali showdown

LAHORE - Leaders of various political and religious parties as well as the minorities wish the Pakistan cricket team good luck and prayed for their success in the semi final against rival India in Mohali on Wednesday (today). They also expressed hope that Pakistan team would take the glory from Mohalis battle field by defeating India. Cricket fans on both sides of the Wagha consider the game more than a match when it will be played between Pakistan and India, as bitter memories of partition and four battles between the two countries turn the atmosphere of the cricket field of Pak-India teams into a battle zone. Meanwhile, PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has telephoned Intikhab Alam and Shahid Afridi from London and congratulated them on their previous successes and expressed hope for the win of Pakistani team in the semi final with India. Nawaz Sharif said that he was praying for the win of the national team, while the prayers of the entire nation were behind them. PML-Q chief Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and senior leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi expressed optimism that the Pakistani team would deliver a crushing blow to rival India and take the glory from the field. PML-Q (Like-Minded Group) leaders Salim Saif Ullah and Kashmala Tariq while wishing best of luck to Pakistani team said that the national team should play with confidence in the semi final with India like they played in the previous matches to grab the victory in Mohali. Leaders of the MQM including Dr Farooq Sattar, Haider Abbas Rizvi and Iftikhar Randhawa said that they were sure of Pakistani teams win. Muttahidda Muslim League (MML) leaders Ijaz-ul-Haq, Mir Zafar Ullah Jamali and Sheikh Rasheed said that all Pakistanis across the globe were praying for their teams win and the players of our team should put all efforts in the ground to secure victory from traditional rival. JI chief Syed Munawar Hassan said the team had shown excellent performance in earlier matches and hoped that it would keep up its winning spree. JUI-F, Jamiat Ahle-Hadith, Sunni Ittehad Council, JUP and PTI leaders also expressed best wishes for the national team and hoped that the Pakistani team keeping in view its track record in the recent world cup would defeat traditional rival on its own ground in Mohali. Moreover, All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) leaders to wish good luck to the national team would free parrots and pigeons at Liberty Chowk on Wednesday (today). The APML would also install a big screen at Sodiwal Colony, Multan Road for displaying the match between Pakistan and India, while party leaders including Fawad Chaudhary, Saim Dada, Naeem Tahir and others would participate in the programmes. Shahbab Milli leaders Ahmed Salmaan Baloch and Abid Mir also announced to install huge screens at Mall Road, Mansoora and Shadbagh. Special prayers were held in churches, Sikh gurdwaras and Hindu temples across the country for the success of Pakistani team in Mohali. PML-Q leader Mushahid Hussain Syed and Like-Minded leader Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri left for Mohali through Wagha border to watch the semi-final between Pakistan and India, while several political figures had already reached Indian Punjab to watch the historic event.

ePaper - Nawaiwaqt