Supporters and workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday began to pour into the streets of major cities across the country in a show of support for the ousted premier Imran Khan.
Earlier in the day, Imran had tweeted that today - a day after his removal from the office - marked the beginning of a "freedom struggle" against what he called was a "foreign conspiracy of regime change".
To energise his supporters, the former prime minister said, "It is always the people who protected their own sovereignty and democracy.
"Pakistan became an independent state in 1947; but the freedom struggle begins again today against a foreign conspiracy of regime change," he wrote. “It is always the people of the country who defend their sovereignty and democracy.”
Consequently, answering the call of the PTI chairman, nationwide large protests erupted.
“Peaceful protest will be carried out throughout the country today. The country stands with Imran Khan!”-@Hammad_Azhar #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/vusHTlSYna
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
Lahore
According to reports, around over a thousand protesters gathered at Lahore’s Lalik Jan Chowk and Liberty Market here on Sunday night.
PTI leader Hammad Azhar posted a video of a rally from his constituency of NA-126 leaving for Liberty Chowk.
PTI Senator Ejaz Chaudhry also shared a video of a rally from the city's NA-133 constituency to Liberty Market in which slogans against the United States could be heard.
Shouting the slogans in unanimous chorus, a large number of PTI workers, other citizens as well as civil society representatives condemned the "foreign conspiracy" which, they alleged, had been behind the attempts to overthrow the PTI-led government.
Demonstrators also turned out on Gulberg's Main Boulevard which remained jam-packed with protesters.
The protesters held PTI flags, banners and placards on which slogans were inscribed in favour of Imran Khan.
Similar protests were recorded in various other cities including Kasur, Nankana Sahib, Shahkot, Sheikhupura, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Narowal, Sialkot, and Sahiwal, Pakpatan, Okara, Faisalabad, Chiniot, Jhang, Sargodha, Khushab, Bhakkar, Rawalpindi, Jehlum, Chakwal and Attock.
Although the protests had erupted on Saturday evening when the National Assembly was in session to pass a no-confidence motion against Imran Khan, the agitation strengthened on Sunday after Imran announced an official call for peaceful protests.
Peaceful protest across all cities on Sunday April 10
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
1) Lahore:Garden town KFC to Liberty Big City 08:00
2) Sialkot:Rang-Pura Chowk,9.00PM
3) Sahiwal,Mazdoor Pulli,9.30PM
4 )Karachi Rashid Minhas Road Millenium Mall,9:00
5) Liaaqaut Bagh Rawalpindi 9:30pm#امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور
Karachi
A large protest was also held in Karachi on Rashid Minhas Road.
Leader of the Opposition in Sindh Assembly, Haleem Adil Sheikh was among the local PTI leadership that was present.
The protestors chanted slogans against the “imported government”.
A large number of citizens, including women and children, alongside party leaders participated in the protest near Millennium Mall.
PTI leader Firdous Shamim Naqvi, while addressing the rally, that both MQM “along with three rats” has betrayed the nation.
Also read: Struggle against 'foreign conspiracy' begins today: Imran Khan
Peshawar
Rallies were taken out from different locations in and the surrounding areas of Peshawar in support of Imran Khan. Men and women of all ages in huge numbers were seen chanting slogans and holding banners inscribed with “We Want Imran Khan”, “He Will Come Back”, and “We Reject Imported Government”.
Overseas protests
Meanwhile, overseas supporters of the PTI also turned up to support Imran Khan.
The party supporters and workers staged a protest demonstration outside Avenfield flats in London, the residence of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.
غیرتمند پاکستانی جہاں بھی ہے اسکو #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور ہے pic.twitter.com/vjgWY1RaYn
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 11, 2022
A video shared by Ali Haider Zaidi showed protestors raising slogans of "diesel" — a reference to Fazlur Rehman of the JUI-F.
Pakistan became an independent state in 1947; but the freedom struggle begins again today against a foreign conspiracy of regime change. It is always the people of the country who defend their sovereignty & democracy.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 10, 2022
Imran thanks protestors
Taking to Twitter later in the day, the PTI chairman thanked the protestors and claimed that the agitation signalled Pakistanis' "rejection of the foreign conspiracy".
"Thank you to all Pakistanis for their amazing outpouring of support & emotions to protest against US-backed regime change abetted by local Mir Jafars to bring into power a coterie of pliable crooks all out on bail," Imran wrote on Twitter.
Thank you to all Pakistanis for their amazing outpouring of support & emotions to protest against US-backed regime change abetted by local Mir Jafars to bring into power a coterie of pliable crooks all out on bail. Shows Pakistanis at home & abroad have emphatically rejected this
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 10, 2022
"Shows Pakistanis at home & abroad have emphatically rejected this," he added.
Never have such crowds come out so spontaneously and in such numbers in our history, rejecting the imported govt led by crooks. pic.twitter.com/YWrvD1u8MM
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) April 10, 2022
No force on earth can stop an idea whose time has come.
— Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) April 10, 2022
Peshawar right now, standing for an independent, khuddar, ghairatment Pakistan. Peshawar standing with @ImranKhanPTI. pic.twitter.com/xTBBwmYEgG
Karachi walon, you’ve outdone yourself! Today the Nation has proved they stand with their leader @ImranKhanPTI ! #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور #RevolutionBlackedOut pic.twitter.com/TObRRpZgkv
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
DHA, Islamabad.
— Asfandyar Bhittani (@BhittaniKhannnn) April 10, 2022
He made even the most westernized segment of society chant slogans against the West. NED funded local collaborators have failed to turn his people against him. #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/I2cCz3aKwz
After the historic success of the opposition's no-trust motion against Imran Khan in National Assembly, nation-wide protests are taking place with a multitude of people voicing support for the ousted premier.
— The Express Tribune (@etribune) April 10, 2022
🎥 via: @shaheeraanwar #etribune #news #imrankhan #PTI pic.twitter.com/ajIibXshsH
MashAllah! The charged crowd of Karachi clearly tells that the Nation stands with Imran Khan! #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/pJ5AZyZ4UF
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
MashaALLAH people have spoken up against IMPORTED GOVERNMENT
— Ali Muhammad Khan (@Ali_MuhammadPTI) April 10, 2022
IMPORTED Gov……Absolutely NOT !! pic.twitter.com/0T4AHoUjaO
امریکا کی غلامی سے آزادی کے لیے pic.twitter.com/h1hjyHVtel
— Ansar Abbasi (@AnsarAAbbasi) April 10, 2022
A view of Lahore rally.
لاہور میں غیر ملکی ایجنٹوں کے خلاف احتجاج کا آغاز- #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/qQDQgVK86u
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
Umarkot, Sindh.
عمر کوٹ سندھ میں عوام کی بڑی تعداد امپورٹڈ حکومت کے خلاف پرامن احتجاج کرتے ہوئے سڑکوں پر نکل آئی۔
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
#امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/WUTiPZLa3x
Liberty Chowk, Lahore.
Liberty Chowk’s crowd is already charged!! Today the Nation will demonstrate how they stand with @ImranKhanPTI ! #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/sKvWBecSH7
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
Gujranwala.
گوجرانوالہ میں ہزاروں افراد عمران خان سے اظہار یکجہتی کرتے ہوئے- #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/wT1WqOiUgs
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
Faisalabad.
Youth of Faisalabad is outside to defend their sovereignty & democracy !! 🇵🇰
— Ibn E Khalid (@HunainKhalidd) April 10, 2022
#BehindYouSkipperAlways pic.twitter.com/T7rC4VQBx8
Abbottabad, K-P.
Abbottabad, KP
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
Which part of Pakistan isn't showing PTI Colors today! Pakistan has united to show their gratitude for #ImranKhan #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور#عمران_خان_نہیں_جھکا pic.twitter.com/JB5YqBJpsN
Mianwali, Punjab.
میانوالی کی بھی پکار، امپورٹڈ حکومت نامنظور
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
#امپورٹڈ__حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/8hLk27tFR0
Peshawar, K-P.
"We want #ImranKhan back"
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
Pakistan will not rest until fresh elections are conducted!
This clip is from Peshawar, KP #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور#عمران_خان_نہیں_جھکا pic.twitter.com/rrM9Ue5ybS
Okara, Punjab.
Thank you Okara #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/ZDJlP4IlHL
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) April 10, 2022
Jhang, Punjab.
فوارہ چوک جھنگ
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
#امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/zPIBYganht
Islamabad.
Zero Point, Islamabad, right now. Massive support for @ImranKhanPTI ! #امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/wA3JTENb2q
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
ملک کے طول و عرض میں امپورٹڈ حکومت کے خلاف تاریخی احتجاج جاری۔
— PTI (@PTIofficial) April 10, 2022
#امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/VFyCygd163
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