Imran Khan’s Release Demanded at California State Capitol Protest
By Ras H. Siddiqui
A group of about 40 participants held a rally at the western footsteps of the California State Capitol building in Sacramento, California on Sunday, August 27, 2023.
The group consisted of women, young people and children within its ranks who along with the men here were unified in their one major demand, “Release Imran Khan from jail in Pakistan.” It is also important to point out here that some of the participants at this rally were not members or sympathizers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party.
For those who may not be aware, ever since Imran Khan’s government was toppled last year via a vote of no-confidence in parliament, and his subsequent strong resistance to this move, over a hundred court cases have been filed against him. Ranging in seriousness from being involved in a killing and even treason, to the lighter realm of not declaring the income on a gift that he purchased from the state treasury gift depository (Toshakhana case), the pressure has been kept on him.
As a friend pointed out, it is a wonder that he has not yet been charged with jaywalking! But in the Toshakhana case, Imran Khan was sentenced to three years in prison and barred from running in elections for 5 years (the main objective?). Now, he is in a cell at the infamous Attock Jail and a large number of people are extremely unhappy about it including some judges of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) who have just recently suspended his sentence and want him released. But at the time of this writing, he remains imprisoned and could remain there. One never knows if this time it is on a much more serious charge.
But back to the event. Sacramento, California is known for its famous Fabulous Forties neighborhood. But these 40 diehard protestors at the State Capitol should now be included in that fame. Against all odds this small (and shrinking) group committed individuals happen to be a part of the voice of the larger Pakistani Diaspora in America who are extremely unhappy about the current situation in their country of origin.
Speaking to this reporter, educationist and PTI member spokesperson Uzma, one of the main organizers of this protest, said that she was here because she wanted to raise awareness of what is happening in Pakistan and what is being done to our ex-Prime Minister Imran Khan. About the rally, she said that the ones who came here are highly motivated and that she believed that this was a really good core group. ‘It has been one of the best meetings that I have come here to,’ she said.
Another very vocal participant in the protest Nassir said that since childhood, we have witnessed a person (Imran Khan) who has done so much for Pakistan, in the game of Cricket, then building cancer hospitals like Shaukat Khanam. Seeing him charged and put in jail like this is not right. Our demand is that he be released, and the rule of law be followed. Let the courts decide, he said.
The most passionate response at this rally came from a young lady whose name we did not catch. She presented a moving poem in Urdu on how Imran Khan resides in many Pakistani hearts and is a true leader of the country. He will be back, and we will prevail, she said. She added that the opposition is not credible and will not be able to stand its ground. Today, we must save Pakistan, uphold the rule of law, and bring Imran Khan back, she forcefully emphasized.
It has been pointed out that these protest rallies for Imran Khan are getting old and actually smaller here in America, so why even bother to cover them? Yes, fatigue has set in. The first rally at the Capitol last year had close to 400 people and now we are down to 40. But numbers should not matter when deciding coverage, especially when a group no matter how small sings the Pak Sar Zamin Shaad Baad (national anthem) and shouts Pakistan Zindabad.at these protests. These are equally patriotic Pakistanis and deserve recognition if not our appreciation too. Right or wrong, they care!
To conclude, from one who has been inspired by Imran Khan the Cricket hero, and by his philanthropic work for the past three decades, this recent turn of events could not be overlooked. As one who has always opposed his entry into the cesspool of Pakistani politics, some words of advice. Pakistan’s economy is in deep trouble. Let the interim government and the establishment take care of this immediate crisis. If Khan Sahib happens to be the most popular leader of the country he can return elected at a future date. But at the moment, the man in jail needs to heed the words of master Chinese strategist Sun Tzu: "He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight."
