Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan and his party PTI have asked people to march in the capital in a “last call” for democracy and justice. The governing authorities have responded by closing off roads into the capital Islamabad, shutting down parts of the internet and blocking social media, and deploying police and military forces in the streets. – Vegans are closed, everything is barricaded. Large containers block vegans, and the police are everywhere, says Qamar Cheema, head of the Islamabad-based think tank Sanober Institute. Roads around the capital Islamabad were blocked ahead of protests demanding the release of former prime minister Imran Khan.REUTERS Earlier this week the government wrote on X, which is otherwise blocked in the country, that parts of the internet would be shut down. Bluesky is also blocked. NetBlocks, which tracks censorship and restrictions on the internet, reports a large drop in activity on WhatsApp in Pakistan ahead of the demonstrations. The last PTI demonstration in Islamabad turned violent. A police officer was killed and several protesters imprisoned. Photo: Google Maps / Screenshot, Google Maps Photo: Google Maps / Screenshot, Google Maps “Last call” Despite the obstacles from the government and the military, people have flocked to the capital to demonstrate. Khan has been imprisoned since August last year, and has a number of charges of corruption against him. These he himself and several experts and activists say are politically motivated. PTI is banned, and his speeches are not shown on TV. Nevertheless, he has great support among the people, and the PTI won the majority of the votes in the elections in February this year. Many pointed to electoral fraud and military interference when his opponent nevertheless declared victory. Several PTI members were arrested ahead of the election. Convoy on the way to Islamabad.X/@KALIWALYAM Nevertheless, Cheema believes that the PTI will struggle to mobilize as many people as they need. – The people really see him as the only “pure” politician in the country. But people are also tired, and PTI has been asking them to demonstrate for a long time now. It is expensive to demonstrate, and the authorities can crack down on them, he says. Qamar Cheema is an analyst and head of the think tank Sanober Institute in Islamabad. Photo: Privat / Privat Since February, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his government have introduced a series of legislative changes that increase their power over the judiciary and give the military more room to crack down on civilians. Today’s demonstration is being called a “last call” against the government. – I think we are seeing that the PTI is starting to lose hope that Khan will be let loose, says Cheema. Protests all over the world It is not just in the Pakistani cities that PTI supporters are demonstrating today. Demonstrations have been announced on social media in cities all over the world. Several met with protesters outside Donald Trump’s house in Florida. Photo: Brian Snyder / Reuters In Oslo, supporters of Imran Khan meet at the 7 June square to show their support. There is Aimen Mir, activist and deputy leader of the organization Insaf. – It is clear that he has captured a lot of hearts and sympathy around the world. It is not always that you see a person at the very top giving up a life of luxury to go home and fight for a better Pakistan. But he did it, she says. – The power lies with the people Mir sees Pakistan as an “open prison”. – The demonstration today is to show support for the people and that we do not agree with the government and the military. Not least because we have friends and family there, she says. Aimen Mir, from the organization Insaf, is among those who want to see Khan released and regain power in Pakistan. Photo: PRIVATE In the last few days she has been in contact via WhatsApp with a couple who got to use VPN, but now she has lost contact. Nevertheless, it feels good to know that other Pakistanis around the world are demonstrating for the same cause today. – It is as if the power lies with the people today. Nothing seems more important than showing that solidarity, she says. Published 24.11.2024, at 17.10
ttn-69
Demonstrations all over the world for Imran Khan and Pakistan – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
