Supporters surrounding the truck carrying Nawaz Sharif's container on August 9, 2017. Photo: Geo News

RAWALPINDI: Former prime minister Nawaz Sharif will begin the second leg of his 'homecoming rally' shortly.

On Wednesday, Sharif, the chief of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), set out from Punjab House, Islamabad after deciding to go home to Lahore via the GT Road. 

The amassing of supporters, however, could only get him as far as Rawalpindi ? forcing him to spend the night in the city's Punjab House. 

Sources said the former premier is expected to set off on his journey around 11am. Supporters from across Rawalpindi have begun gathering near Kacheri Chowk, close to where Nawaz is residing, to officially begin the 'GT Road' part of the journey. 

Nawaz Sharif vacates PM House; off to Murree with family

Senators Pervaiz Rasheed and Asif Kirmani were reportedly at the PM House to see-off the former prime minister

The former premier is expected to move through Jhelum, Kharian, Lala Musa and Gujrat to Gujranwala, and then move through Kamoke, Muridke, Kala Shah Kaku, Ferozwala and Shahdra to enter his hometown of Lahore. 

It is unclear whether Nawaz will be able to reach Lahore, or even Gujranwala, today ? based on the pace of the rally on Wednesday. 

After being disqualified by the Supreme Court on July 28 in its verdict in the Panama Papers case, Nawaz has gone to the 'people's court' to seek their verdict. 

Addressing supporters at Rawalpindi late Wednesday night, he took a pledge from the people that they would get their mandate respected.

"Promise me you would get your mandate respected. Promise me you won?t allow your prime minister to be humiliated this way," he stated.

"If you do not protect your rights, they will continue to be snatched away from you," he told his supporters.

"The judges said there is no corruption case against Nawaz Sharif, so why was I disqualified? I leave this for history to determined," noted the three-time premier. 

We have to change Pakistan, respect public's mandate: Sharif

Sharif's has been rallying to his home in Lahore via the GT Road, following his disqualification as prime minister by the Supreme Court

Day One

Earlier, the former prime minister's caravan entered Rawalpindi surrounded by scores of supporters. 

Strict security preparations were made for the rally, with a significant number of police personnel, including elite force commandos, deployed. A helicopter also followed the procession to provide safe passage for the rally.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi ? the new prime minister and a close ally ? said the former leader was alert to security threats. "The bigger a leader is, the bigger the threat is," Abbasi told Geo.tv.

The ex-premier departed from Punjab House around noon. Senior government officials ? including Abbasi, members of the federal cabinet, and PML-N leaders ? were present to see him off.

GT Road rally: Nawaz's caravan moving through Rawalpindi

Nawaz is expected to spend the night in Rawalpindi tonight, will address party workers at Committee chowk

Chaudhry Nisar ? the disgruntled party leader and former interior minister ? was conspicuous through his absence from the procession.

The event remained largely peaceful, though Sharif's supporters assaulted the crew of two local TV stations that had been critical of him during the court proceedings, police official Hafeez Khan said.