LAHORE/KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Supporters and activists of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) took out late-night rallies in several cities across the country to protest against the ouster of former prime minister and party chairman Imran Khan through a contentious vote of no-confidence.
Earlier in the day, Khan tweeted that today marked the beginning of a “freedom struggle” against what he called was a “foreign conspiracy of regime change”. In an attempt to galvanise his supporters, he said it was always the people who protected their own sovereignty and democracy.
Pakistan became an independent state in 1947; but the freedom struggle begins again today against a foreign conspiracy of regime change. It is always the people of the country who defend their sovereignty & democracy.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 10, 2022
PTI central spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry also called on the people to stage protests after Isha prayers while speaking to the media in Islamabad earlier in the day. He said that Khan not leading a massive movement would amount to a “betrayal with the country’s politics and Constitution”.
The party later issued a schedule of the various protests that were planned for cities all over the country starting at 9:30 pm.
Protest points nationwide. Shortly the Nation will demonstrate how they stand with their leader @ImranKhanPTI ! #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/52Mjjs8a7L
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
Islamabad
The protest in the capital started from Zero Point, with people gathering and waving flags while chanting slogans in the former prime minister’s favour.
The flow of traffic at Srinagar Highway was affected due to the rally with long traffic lines forming.
Zero Point, Islamabad, right now. Massive support for @ImranKhanPTI ! #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/wA3JTENb2q
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
Meanwhile, Chaudhry thanked PTI supporters for turning out in Rawalpindi for the protest.
Thank you #Rawalpindi #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور https://t.co/I21G8TrTXi
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 10, 2022
Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed also addressed a rally at Rawalpindi’s Lal Haveli and lashed out at the PML-N, taking aim in particular at prime ministerial nominee Shehbaz Sharif and alleging that he was trying to avoid indictment in a money laundering reference.
Lahore
PTI leader Hammad Azhar posted a video of a rally from his constituency of NA-126 leaving for Liberty Chowk.
My constituency NA 126 Lahore’s rally leaving for liberty chowk. pic.twitter.com/7omFjrBbdE
— Hammad Azhar (@Hammad_Azhar) April 10, 2022
PTI Senator Ejaz Chaudhry also shared a video of a rally from the city’s NA-133 constituency to Liberty Market in which slogans against the United States could be heard.
Rally from #NA133 to liberty market lahore along with Shabir Sial & Fayyaz Bhatti and thousands of Imran Khan’s Tigers #امپورٹڈ_گورمنٹ_نامنظور #WeStandWithImranKhan #IstandwithImranKhan pic.twitter.com/bQr4nap1gr
— Senator Ejaz Chaudhary (@EjazChaudhary) April 10, 2022
Other videos shared by the PTI showed a throng of supporters and party diehards out in full force at Liberty Chowk.
Liberty Chowk’s crowd is already charged!! Today the Nation will demonstrate how they stand with @ImranKhanPTI ! #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/sKvWBecSH7
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
Peshawar
A large number of protesters including women and children turned up at Peshawar Press Club and expressed solidarity with the ousted prime minister.
The crowd chanted slogans against Pakistan Democratic Movement chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and the heads of other political parties along with comments that appeared to be aimed at the military.
“We want #ImranKhan back”
Pakistan will not rest until fresh elections are conducted!This clip is from Peshawar, KP #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور#عمران_خان_نہیں_جھکا pic.twitter.com/rrM9Ue5ybS
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
Images shared by the PTI also showed demonstrations in other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa such as Bajaur and Abottabad.
Protests in Bajaur, KP #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور#عمران_خان_نہیں_جھکا#ImranKhan pic.twitter.com/Ys7FDjCOCL
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
