Slogans, emotions, colors and unity - all were highly visible at the magnificent and successful Jalsa held in Toronto by PTI Canada on April 22nd to celebrate the youm-e-tasees of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf and launch of membership campaign in Canada. Mr. Saifullah Niazi, Additional Secretary General addressed the tsunami live from Pakistan. Salman Ahmed of Junoon later performed live at the event, voicing his support for the party.
Over 1,400 people belonging from all walks of life and different backgrounds participated in the event, of which 131 enrolled in paid membership, aside from the funds raised as donation to the party. Data of approximately 700 Pakistanis was also collected at the event for future correspondence.
The event started off with the crowd standing in unity in emotions as they sung along the national anthems of Pakistan and Canada. Silence was conducted and hands raised in prayers for the victims of Bhoja airplane crash and Siachin incident before PTI Canada Directors and Coordinators took to the stage to speak about the party’s history, manifesto and agenda as the vibrant crowds shouted out slogans of ‘Imran Khan Zindabad!’ and ‘Pakistan Zindabad’. Amongst the speakers were: Masud Raja, Khawar Chaudhary, Javed Sial, Shabbir Chaudhry, Shaheen Rizwan, Jawad Malik.
The star of the event, however, was Mr. Saifullah Niazi, who addressed the Jalsa live from Pakistan via videoconferencing. The massive crowd listened in pin drop silence, periodically roaring out in applause, as he engaged in a very intellectual description of the ground level activities and the structure of the party.
He shared his personal experiences with the crowd, and described how PTI progressed to where it today stands. Mr. Niazi, through his brilliant address, re enforced the concept that Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf is a true democratic party, to which a massive response was received in both appreciation and fundraising.
Imran Ali, Pakistan’s Consul General to Toronto also participated in the event and along with General Secretary of PTI Canada, Mian Abubakar; discussed the importance of and procedure to vote for overseas Pakistanis; PTI volunteers distributed NICOP forms to the audience.
Salman Ahmed of Junoon performed live at the event, rocking the crowd that sung along him to the patriotic rhythms of ‘dil dil Pakistan’ and the likes in all enthusiasm, with flags of the party and Pakistan waving across the hall. The event ended with notable contributors and volunteers being awarded certificates, before which dinner was served.
Mr. Graeme Smith, foreign representative of Globe and Mail, upon special invitation from General Secretary Mian Abubaqr, also attended the event to get a taste of PTI Jalsa as he was unable to attend the PTI Jalsa in Karachi due to delayed issuance of visa from Interior Ministry of Pakistan. The historic gathering was also witnessed and covered by a large number of representatives of Pakistani and Western media. It was also webcasted on all PTI social media sites, websites and other political sites. Thousands of people around the world watched the event live on the internet.
The event was a huge success in sending out the party message, making new members, getting youth involved, collecting community data, honoring leadership, involving media and most importantly, in carrying out a healthy political activity.
More pictures can be found at the PTICanada Facebook page.