London, the United Kingdom – A crowd of about 200 people gathered outside the Houses of Parliament in London on Sunday, waving placards along with green, black and red flags.
The chant “Aaj nahi, to kub? [If not today, then when?]” echoed through loudspeakers across Westminster, while popular Pakistani songs played in the background.
The rally was organised by members of Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), a political party set up in 1996 by Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Concerned members of the Pakistani diaspora united with the UK-based party members of Khan’s group, calling for free and fair elections and a return to the rule of law.
Maliha*, a digital media specialist in her 30s, had never attended a political protest until Khan’s ousting from power in April last year.
Khan lost a no-confidence vote to his leadership after facing mounting pressure over his foreign policy, the declining economy and a resurgence of the Pakistan Taliban armed group.
Maliha drove for more than three hours from her home in Cardiff, Wales to attend the protest.
“It’s the state of affairs in Pakistan at the moment, myself and others thought it was unjust and believe it’s part of a foreign-backed drive to remove Khan Sahib [Sir Khan] from power,” she told Al Jazeera.
Supporters of Pakistan’s Imran Khan protest in London, the UK
Supporters of Pakistan’s Imran Khan protest in London, the UK [Indlieb Farazi Saber/Al Jazeera]
Khan’s supporters were quick to take to the streets of Pakistan after he was ousted, followed by his supporters abroad.
In May this year, Khan was arrested by Pakistan’s anti-corruption agency.
