ahore, considered the cultural hub of Pakistan, also has a lot of historical significance for the kind of political activities the city has been witness to. From Mahmud Ghaznavi to Ranjit Singh, the Lahore Resolution at Minto Park and the various public rallies our political leaders have held at places like Mochi Gate and Nasser Bagh… the city has seen it all.

Last week, PTI chairman and former premier Imran Khan led what he called the Haqeeqi Azadi March out of Lahore. The starting point for the march was Liberty Chowk. I happened to be there, too (barefoot, unfortunately, as my shoes had been stolen from outside the mosque at Liberty). The meeting time was set for 11 in the morning, but it was after Jum’a prayers that people started pouring in.

In recent years, Liberty Chowk has emerged as an important venue for protest demonstrations. The chowk, quite like Lalik Chowk, has acquired great significance for PTI supporters where they can gather, launch a movement and put up a power show. Friday last, charged crowds of people from various parts of the country converged at the chowk in impressive numbers.

PTI’s public rallies are unconventional in some ways, especially their use of loud music (national songs and party anthems) that evoke a sense of festivity and celebration. Critics of the PTI say that these elements take the seriousness away. Others believe that these help engage the crowds and keep them motivated. Likewise for the party slogans and the festive displays of party flags and adornments.

The Friday rally was no different. Only the marchers weren’t going to stay at one place; they were headed for Islamabad, in the form of a caravan. However, it wasn’t all celebration this time around. The backdrop of the rally was the murder of a leading TV show anchor Arshad Sharif. The mood of the rally was ‘rage.’ Yes, there was celebration and excitement typical of PTI rallies, but the anger could be sensed in random conversations and chants.

The crowd wasn’t all composed of what the anti-PTI commentators disparagingly call ‘burger’. It was more diverse. There were a lot of youngsters, but older people weren’t rare to find. Pashtuns working in the Ichhra Bazaar and some residents of the Walled City also joined the caravan on its way.

The march left Liberty Chowk at around 3:30pm, following Imran Khan’s first speech. It took the marchers a good few hours to reach Ichhra where Imran Khan was to make another speech. (There were several checkpoints along the route where the march would stop and Khan would deliver a speech.)

This was when the container’s generator stopped working. This led to a heated argument between Asad Umar and Ali Nawaz Awan that was captured in a mobile phone video that went viral on social media.

Ferozepur Road had assumed the shape of a police compound. Armed cops had taken positions around the Metro bridges, pedestrian crossovers, and the roofs of nearby buildings. The public were barred from entering these. That this didn’t deter anyone from climbing the signboards to pat Imran Khan’s hands is another story.

The container was too high and required those standing atop to lean in order to safely make its way through. It made the job easier. Imran Khan sported his trademark sunglasses for not just the length of the day but most of the night as well.

The march reached Mozang at 11 in the night. Another speech by Imran Khan followed. He also administered an oath to the participants.

The writer is an entrepreneur, an LLB student and a freelance writer. He tweets @Khan__Bahadur