Thousands of people have attended a rally and procession in support of former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif following a Supreme Court decision to disqualify him from office over undeclared assets.
Sharif began on Wednesday the so-called "caravan" procession from Islamabad to his eastern home town of Lahore despite the concerns of advisers about security.
After being driven 12 hours surrounded by supporters showering his vehicle with rose petals from capital Islamabad to the neighbouring city of Rawalpindi, Sharif addressed the crowd shortly after midnight.
"One court has given its decision, now this court will make a decision, the court of the people of Pakistan," Sharif said, asking the crowd if they accepted the Supreme Court's decision, a question that elicited a loud no from his supporters.
'Still our prime minister'
"Nawaz Sharif is still our prime minister," said worker Niaz Ahmad, who wore a lion lookalike costume and chanted, "Lion, Lion!" referring to the election symbol of Sharif's political party.
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.
Pakistan will celebrate 70 years of independence from British rule on August 14 but the country has never had a full term prime minister with numerous governments being interrupted by either military coups, judicial disqualification, or presidential decree.
Sharif, 67, resigned during his third stint as prime minister after the Supreme Court ruled on July 28 he should be disqualified and ordered a criminal probe into his family over allegations stemming from the "Panama Papers" leaks of international offshore companies.
He was replaced by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, a close Sharif ally.
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