London, the UK – A crowd of about 200 individuals gathered outdoors the Homes of Parliament in London on Sunday, waving placards together with inexperienced, black and purple flags.
The mantra “Aaj nahi, to kub? [If not today, then when?]” echoed by way of loudspeakers throughout Westminster, whereas fashionable Pakistani songs performed within the background.
The rally was organised by members of Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), a political social gathering arrange in 1996 by Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Involved members of the Pakistani diaspora united with the UK-based social gathering members of Khan’s group, calling without cost and truthful elections and a return to the rule of regulation.
Maliha*, a digital media specialist in her 30s, had by no means attended a political protest till Khan’s ousting from energy in April final 12 months.
Khan misplaced a no-confidence vote to his management after going through mounting strain over his international coverage, the declining economic system and a resurgence of the Pakistan Taliban armed group.
Maliha drove for greater than three hours from her residence in Cardiff, Wales to attend the protest.
“It’s the state of affairs in Pakistan for the time being, myself and others thought it was unjust and imagine it’s a part of a foreign-backed drive to take away Khan Sahib [Sir Khan] from energy,” she informed Al Jazeera.
Khan’s supporters have been fast to take to the streets of Pakistan after he was ousted, adopted by his supporters overseas.
In Could this 12 months, Khan was arrested by Pakistan’s anti-corruption company.
1000’s extra took to the streets, with Pakistani police arresting and detaining greater than 4,000 individuals, together with journalists, in response to Human Rights Watch.
The military-backed authorities accused the protesters of attacking police and authorities buildings, in addition to navy belongings and installations.
Khan has denied the accusations and has known as for an impartial inquiry.
“In his 26 years in politics, Khan Sahib has by no means known as for violence,” stated Maliha, “so accountable him for inciting what’s been taking place on the streets of Pakistan is unjust.”
Within the UK, peaceable protests are protected beneath the European Conference on Human Rights.
On Sunday, one protester stated: “Inside Pakistan, there is no such thing as a longer freedom of expression beneath the brand new regime – so it’s as much as the abroad Pakistanis to talk out … we’re the one ones who nonetheless have a voice.”
Maliha stated that the protesters wished the UK authorities to take motion.
“We should elevate our voices for the way forward for Pakistan, for the ladies who’ve been abused in detention by the present regime, for human rights violations and for the return to the rule of regulation,” she stated.
Maliha cited the UK authorities’s promise to advertise and defend democracy and human rights abroad as a part of its technique for worldwide growth.
“Western democracies are at all times talking concerning the rule of regulation, about ladies’s rights, so why aren’t they serving to now?” she requested.
Shehryar Fazli, a London-based political analyst and writer, informed Al Jazeera that he didn’t see a big shift within the UK method in the direction of the Pakistani navy “with whom it enjoys fairly good relations”.
“I feel there will definitely be considerations expressed concerning the situations for a free and truthful election in October, however that stated, I don’t suppose the UK is excited by rocking the boat an excessive amount of,” Fazli stated.
Intolerance for dissent
Whereas Khan supporters inside Pakistan have been threatened, overwhelmed and detained, the military is reported to even be attacking relations of these demonstrating outdoors of Pakistan.
“The way in which that they aim individuals abroad suggests their tolerance for dissent has declined considerably,” stated Fazli.
In London, Sheikh Ahsan stood barely away from the remainder of the protesting crowd. The retired naval officer residing in Romford, Essex, informed Al Jazeera that his son in Lahore was detained three weeks in the past and assaulted by Pakistani police for supporting Khan.
“The nation is now owned by the military,” he stated, including that this has not deterred him from taking a stance.
“I’m right here to assist Khan,” Ahsan stated. “We’re requesting for the regime to launch him and drop the false fees in opposition to him.”
Khan was launched on Could 12, however is going through greater than 100 corruption and “terrorism” fees.
He has been calling for early elections to problem the present authorities, one which he says has been funded by international powers.
Fazli advised the navy can be glad to disqualify Khan from the upcoming October elections.
“I don’t suppose they’d essentially wish to go additional with a long-term jail sentence. This might agitate his supporters as soon as once more,” he famous.
“I feel there’s a brand new tactic now. If we are able to’t break Imran Khan, break the remainder of the social gathering, which they’ve managed to do fairly efficiently,” Fazli stated.
Greater than 80 senior members of PTI have give up the social gathering in latest weeks.
The mass social gathering exodus, Fazli advised, was possible coerced by way of types of intimidation whereas social gathering members have been in detention.
“There’s a file on everybody, particularly politicians. It’s most likely the risk – we are able to put you away for a lot of, a few years, or we are able to have an effect on your companies, seize your belongings, go after your households – or would you prefer to bow out of politics fully, or be part of the brand new social gathering we’re serving to usher into existence?”
If the PTI goes into the elections weaker this October, with no likelihood of successful the election, then elections will go forward, stated Fazli.
However Pakistani politics has at all times performed out in again rooms throughout London, the place political dissidents have discovered refuge and power because the creation of Pakistan 76 years in the past.