PTI Supporters Protest Imran Khan’s Arrest at the California State Capitol
By Ras H. Siddiqui
Close to a hundred people gathered at the California State Capitol on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at around 6:30 p.m. to protest the arrest in Pakistan of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
This was not a bad turnout for a hurriedly arranged event held in response to the news a few hours earlier that the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and former Prime Minister had been arrested on premises of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
The news was met with bewilderment, concern, and even some anger here in Sacramento. And that response was not limited to only PTI supporters. Only some supporters of the PML-N expressed elation on WhatsApp Groups while supporters of the PPP approached this news more cautiously.
The program started as Shak Khan of the local PTI thanked and welcomed everyone. He lamented the fact that Imran Khan had been arrested on trumped up charges. He said that this is a very sad day, a Black Day for Pakistan. Shak next invited local PTI leader Javaid Akhtar to address the gathering.
Javaid spoke in Urdu and looked back at about a year ago when the PTI had held a large gathering at this same spot when then Prime Minister Imran Khan was removed from power by powerful forces, and undesirable elements were put in place to replace the PTI government. These are the same forces who made us part ways with our Bengali brothers (of former East Pakistan). The majority leader of Pakistan has been arrested (once again). This is one reason that Pakistan does not make progress, he added. Sincere leaders are put in jail. We need the Rule of Law and Freedom of Speech in Pakistan, like here in this country, he added. Release Imran Khan said Javaid. He has suffered because he loves his country.
Next, PTI Social Media Team leader and activist Uzma Saeed, speaking in both Urdu and English, reiterated that the Pakistani American community, no matter where they live, needs to reach out to their local (non-Pakistani) friends and elected officials to get the word out on what is happening in Pakistan. We need to get together like this every week to get the message out, she said. Pakistan needs us today and that is one reason why we need to stay visible. Uzma added that everyone’s life is very busy in this country, but we can still set aside just 2 hours a week to show our support. Do you think that a leader like Imran Khan is born every day?
The last speaker was Farooq Azhar who thanked everyone for attending. He said that Imran Khan is fighting for his country and its people. He also asked everyone to pray for his safety.
The protest rally next turned into a march around the picturesque park grounds starting from the World Peace Rose Garden and ending at the western steps of the Capitol building, the seat of California’s government.
