A PTI rally means business for hawkers

SAHIWAL: Muhammad Afzal, 28, from Sheikhupura district reached here early morning on Friday to sell green and red paraphernalia to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) supporters for party’s Saturday (today) rally.

“Both sellers and buyers are moving towards the venue,” Afzal said. Hawkers with their makeshift stalls sitting outside Shaikh Zafar Ali Stadium kept changing their locations depending on where the crowd was heading. Prices are not fixed in this trade. Vendors charged money according to the emotions of PTI supporters and their ‘status’. Interestingly, customers paid whatever price was demanded by hawkers.

Afzal said he had come here with more than 10,000 red and green items, including headbands, armbands, flags of different sizes, scarves, different types of caps, T-shirts and badges. He said only Pakhtuns and Punjabis were involved in this business. He said the profit margin was 50pc and he was confident all his items would be sold before noon.

Afzal said he had been going to PTI chief Imran Khan’s rallies since Aug 14 to sell his stock. “I’m earning enough by selling all this.”

When asked where he would sleep, he said at any hotel by paying Rs40 for a charpoy.

Afzal was selling a head, arm and wrist band for Rs20, muffler Rs100, rosaries Rs50, Pakhtun cap Rs50, P-cap Rs80, flags between Rs500 and Rs5,000, badges Rs20, badges with Imran Khan’s picture Rs20 and T-shirt Rs250 to Rs300. This correspondent also met Muhammad Idrees from Peshawar who was selling PTI paraphernalia.

After visiting the entire venue it was found that more than 140 hawkers had set up stalls, who said they would disperse by noon today. They said they were selling products according to their customer’s status. Someone coming in a car would pay more than a customer on a motorbike or foot.

“There is no fixed rate in this market,” Afzal said with enthusiasm.

The mood at Shaikh Zafar Ali Stadium was festive even on Friday evening. Many people were visiting with their entire families, listening to music and dancing.

Rukhsana, a resident of Farid Town, visited along with her family members. While buying armbands and badges, she said, “Imran is a symbol of a ‘new Pakistan’ and I’m here to help him realise that dream.”

Several youths were driving motorcycles inside the venue without silencers. There were lots of boys and girls painting faces of children with the PTI flag.

A political worker, while looking at pictures of local political leaders on banners, said: “It looks like all local politicians and those ambitious to join politics have joined the PTI.” (Dawn)