Thousands rally in Pakistani capital as pressure grows on PM Khan

News Desk March 27, 2022 in MIDDLE EAST, WORLD Tagged Pakistani - 2 Minutes

Islamabad, Pakistan – Tens of thousands of activists from Pakistan’s ruling party and opposition groups have descended on the capital, Islamabad, ahead of a parliamentary vote seeking to topple the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Khan, under mounting political pressure, has urged supporters from across the country to gather on Sunday for a show of strength ahead of the crucial vote expected next week.

“It is a battle for the future of our nation,” the cricketer-turned-politician said in an audio message released on Twitter on Sunday.

Activists from Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party started arriving in the early morning at the venue, a parade ground near the Faizabad Interchange, where peopledanced to party anthems and shouted slogans such as “long live Imran Khan”.

PTI leaders said they expect more than a million people to attend the rally, which Khan will address, even though some say the venue cannot accommodate more than 30,000 people.

Meanwhile, opposition supporters are also gathering in Islamabad ahead of planned anti-Khan protests on Monday.

Supporters of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s party began a “long march” on Saturday to the capital from the eastern city of Lahore, the political bastion of Sharif and his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party.

Thousands of activists from the conservative Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (F) party are also marching on Islamabad to join anti-government protests.

An alliance of opposition parties is accusing Khan’s government of corruption and blaming him for mismanaging the country amid a growing economic crisis.

Special security arrangements have been made for the rallies and around 13,000 personnel including paramilitary forces have been deployed in different parts of the city to prevent clashes.

The opposition is likely to table the motion of no confidence on Monday. After at least three days of debate, the vote can take place and must be held within seven days.