IK or nothing: Samina Peerzada, Annie Khalid, others join massive PTI jalsa in Lahore

Former PM Imran Khan addressed large crowd gathered at Minar e Pakistan

Several celebrities, including veteran actors Samina Peerzada and Khaled Anam, joined massive crowds at Pakistan Tekreek e Insaaf’s massive jalsa in Lahore, where former PM Imran Khan demanded immediate elections in the country.

Held at the historic location of Minar e Pakistan, celebrities joined the protest, donning green and red, the official colours of the political party, in order to lend support to Khan, who was ousted via a no-confidence motion earlier this month.

Samina took to Twitter to share a picture of herself wearing the PTI colours on her head, writing, “We are stronger now. The entire country is stating in unison that we are a free and independent nation. We will make our own decisions. Free and fair elections immediately.”

I was there pic.twitter.com/oZ59WYtAdp

— Samina Peerzada (@SaminaSays) April 20, 2022

Musician Annie Khalid also took to the bird app to share pictures of herself from the rally. She wrote alongside it, “World, are you watching? We reject the foreign conspiracy. It’s Imran Khan or nothing!”

World, are you watching? We reject the foreign conspiracy. It’s Imran Khan or nothing!

#امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/22xqlVQXTf

— Annie Khalid (@annie_khalid) April 21, 2022

Actor Shaan Shahid, who also addressed the crowd at the rally, tweeted, “I spoke my heart for the love I have for my motherland. I’m a Pakistani that stands firm with the only hope for Pakistan Imran Khan.”

I spoke my heart … for the love I have for my motherland . I’m a Pakistani that stands firm with the only hope for Pakistan @ImranKhanPTI #istandwithikforever pic.twitter.com/xT7dV2AG2k

— Shaan Shahid (@mshaanshahid) April 20, 2022

Veteran actor Khaled Anam shared videos from the venue on Instagram, writing in the caption, “I am there, are you?” Along with a hashtag that translates to, “We reject imported government.” 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Khaled Anam (@khaled_anam)

Fashion designer Munib Nawaz wrote on the photo-sharing app, “It's time to pick a side. In the future, these days will be marked as one of the brightest [uprises] in political awakening of this country. I'm glad [I’m] on the side of Pakistan!”

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by MunibNawaz (@munibnawaz)

VJ and host Anoushey Ashraf took to her Instagram stories to comment on the large numbers the rally attracted. Sharing a post by vlogger Ukhano, Ashraf wrote, “Proud of my friends for turning up! Never have so many people from my own circle [turned] up to show support for change.” She added, taking aim at the current ruling government, “I’ve paid my taxes my entire life. I cannot bear to see my money being spent for their luxuries while Pakistanis go hungry.”

Zara Noor Abbas also shared pictures of the protest, writing on Instagram, “Lahore, I salute your strength!” 

Addressing a mammoth public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan, Khan underlined that the PTI was a democratic party and it strongly believed in democracy and added that it would never accept any “imported rule” in the country.

“We don’t want any confrontation but the mistake of imposing the ‘imported government’ can only be rectified by holding immediate elections in the country,” the former prime minister told the rally.

Khan asked the people of Pakistan to get ready for his call to come to Islamabad in the next phase of his movement. He asked the people to pledge that they would continue their peaceful struggle for “real democracy and independence” in Pakistan till the announcement of fresh elections.