WASHINGTON: hundreds of people protested outside embassy of pakistan on Tuesday, slogan chanting against the expulsion of Imran Khan and the demand for his return, and all of they were not PTI employees.
Many in the crowd—and the speakers—were among those who were guests at the celebration of Pakistan Day at the embassy on March 23. For them it was first event in what they were on another side of fence.
“Only Imran, no one other, said one of posters displayed at the protests. “No to marauders,” said another. “Thieves and marauders will run far. The honest will return,” the poster read in Urdu.
The PTI worker had one of Imran quotes printed on his shirt: “Cheer up. Be strong.” Two teenage girls carried signs that read: “Beggars can’t be leaders. Never mess with with my country.”
Two other teenage girls, Unzela Khwaja and Zainab Nadim, traveled from Elkridge, Maryland. on them. “I came because my mother was very upset when she heard news of Imran’s dismissal,” Unzela said. “I want to share her grief.”
Zainab said she was “upset with in system in Pakistan” and wanted to “show her anger.”
Housewives Farzana Khalid and Shaista Ali Khan traveled from Kingstown and Woodbridge, Virginia. with in family. “Stop interfering,” said Farzana. “We are not slaves of Sharif family. Nawaz, Shehbaz, Maryam, Hamza, Junaid, is this a musical chair?”
“Yes, we want to be free of this stranglehold,” Shaista said. “We can not remain their obedient servants forever.
All of these women claimed they were not PTI employees and never participated in activities like this before.
Dr. Aftab Hussein, senior A PTI employee called it “a defining moment.” He said he believed Imran’s claim that the US official threatened Pakistan. “This intervention in internal affairs of the country.
The slogans that were chanted at the rally more more focused than speeches and comments. However, the most popular slogans were focused on Maulana Fazlur Rehman, who many protesters believed was the instigator of in campaign what brought Imran down.
“Diesel, diesel” turned into a chant when participants kept the rhythm with their legs.
“We had a man who can restore honesty and liberate society of corruption. They made him out. Shame, shame,” said Johnny Bashir, local PTI leader.
Khalid Ahmed, PTI member from Virginia, urged people “stay united and carry on campaign until Imran Khan returns.”
Rana Saadat, another PTI leader, called for early elections and called participants spread this message to your friends and family in Pakistan. “Let’s bring PTI back in power with two-thirds of the votes,” he said.
Published in Dawn, April 13, 2022
