LONDON/ISLAMABAD: Protesters in support of former prime minister Imran Khan gathered outside the London residence of the disgraced former leader and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supreme leader Nawaz Sharif Sunday, calling for an end of “corruption”.
Saturday night’s dramatic no-confidence vote in National Assembly was greeted with dismay by supporters of Khan who assumed power in 2018.
The removal of Khan set Pakistan on an uncertain political path, with his supporters taking to the streets in protest as the opposition prepares to install his replacement.
On Sunday night, tens of thousands of his supporters marched in cities across Pakistan, waving large party flags and shouting slogans, after the end of the daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan.
The youth, who make up the backbone of Khan’s supporters, dominated the crowds.
In London, many demonstrators were angry as they converged in Hyde Park and outside Sharif’s home — Avenfield House in the upscale neighbourhood of Mayfair — and vowed to oppose any “imported government”.
Pakistani mainstream media NOT showing this. Share as much as you can on social media pic.twitter.com/DoN2jUNelp
— JB (@badnocs) April 10, 2022
One woman said: “It’s about our prime minister being hoisted out by corrupt politicians, they were corrupt before in Pakistan. He [Khan] was voted in by the people and unfortunately, due to American pressure, they brought all the other political parties together and hoisted him out.”
Others vowed to send no remittances to Pakistan until Khan was reinstated as prime minister.
Protests today in Hyde Park for @ImranKhanPTI – insha Allah he will be back pic.twitter.com/4qzNN0HYsV
— Kristiane Backer (@KristianeBacker) April 10, 2022
Avenfield is where Sharif has lived when in London since 1993, knocking four luxury flats together to make a single mansion, now worth at least £7 million. He shares it with his sons, Hassan and Hussain, his daughter Maryam and her husband Muhammad Safdar.
In 2017, Supreme Court ruled Sharif was ineligible to hold office after allegations of his involvement in money laundering through the property surfaced, prompting his resignation.
The Avenfield flats form just a fraction of a London property empire owned by Sharif’s family.
Supporters of Khan briefly clashed with opposition supporters outside Avenfield House.
JUST IN – #PTI supporters protest outside PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif home, on the other hand PML-N supporters are celebrating the ousting of PM Imran Khan – attendees now facing each other in London pic.twitter.com/ok7YADvXnr
— Yasir (@YasirShahzad77) April 10, 2022
Similar protests were also held in Qatar, Spain, Australia, Canada and the United States. In Northern Virginia, a group of PTI supporters gathered outside the Brookfield Plaza to protest Khan’s exit.
“Imran will return, with more powers,” they chanted.
Toronto Canada…
The looters of 11 parties considered Imran Khan alone and attacked his government shamelessly in the coal black night but do remember Khan is not alone,the whole world is standing with Imran,every patriotic Pakistani is with @ImranKhanPTI#امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/Em8fOI5CMZ— Javeria Abbasi (@JaveriaMAbasi) April 11, 2022
