PTI Supporters Protest Pak Election Results at the California State Capitol
By Ras H. Siddiqui
Sacramento: Around 100 supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party gathered at the western steps of the California State Capitol building in Sacramento, California on February 25, 2024, to protest what they called a stolen mandate in the February 8, 2024, elections in Pakistan. The participants at this rally ranged in age from children to senior citizens and what they did not lack was enthusiasm for their cause. And as in pretty much all PTI-support rallies, a significant number of women also participated here.
On arrival, we received word that the planned Chief Guest of the day, PTI’s Shahbaz Gill, was not able to make it due to health reasons. This news was not received well because some PTI supporters had come from as far as a 150-mile distance to lend their support to the rally and to listen to Gill. But still, it did not dampen the enthusiasm for long, as the attendees proceeded to move forward with the program.
The formalities started with a recitation from the Holy Qur’an. Sohail first thanked all present for attending the rally and asked everyone to give a round of applause to themselves. And Almighty Allah was thanked for making this all possible. He also thanked the team of organizers who had put the event together. Javaid A., Kamran M., Farooq A., Imran J., and Asif. Haji M., M. Ali, S. Khan from Lodi, and a few others were also thanked along with Jafri from Stockton. A Naat in Punjabi was also presented by M. Imtiaz to add to the spiritual uplift.
Like most other PTI rallies following the spiritual, the State Capitol’s western steps resonated with vociferous slogans of “Pakistan Zindabad” as Sohail proceeded to ask everyone to be civil and follow etiquette while conducting themselves. This was not a tall order since almost all PTI gatherings held in Sacramento are family affairs and quite civil. This is an educated population that wants to continue to show its support for their party which they believe has been wronged in the February election.
Farooq A. of the PTI spoke first and thanked all attendees, especially community seniors, for their presence. He stressed the point that no matter which political party one may belong to or is part of, the dire situation in Pakistan today has now gone beyond partisan politics. We are not doing politics here. We are standing up for what is right. Be proud of your rightful stance and Allah will reward you for that.
S. Ahmad, the next speaker, said that February 8 th was a pivotal election day in Pakistan and that the change that Imran Khan had been talking about did take place on that momentous day. In overly adverse and difficult circumstances, while the party leader (Imran Khan) was in jail, denied the party symbol (cricket bat), and unable to campaign, the PTI won and retained its place as the largest political party in Pakistan. Despite rigging, Imran Khan won on February 8 th, but the establishment won on February 9 th. Still, the Tabdeeli (change) has come, and it cannot be stopped, he said.
Sohail on return said that we never knew about Form 45 and Form 47 before the 2024 elections in Pakistan, but now we all do! He claimed that the use of social media in the recent PTI campaign was a huge success. And speaking of social media PTI’s media person Uzma and her friend Aliya took the opportunity to speak next. This duo has become the voice and face of the PTI in the Sacramento area as they show up every week on streetcorners and sidewalks in the downtown area visibly protesting the treatment meted out to Imran Khan and PTI members in Pakistan. They continually stress the need for Americans to focus on the state of human rights there. And they repeated their message at this rally which was well-received.
Pakistan Zindabad, Na Voh Baaghi Na Voh Ghaddar Qaidi Number 804 , Tera Yaar Mera Yaar Qaidi Number 804, and Imran Khan Zindabad were just some of the slogans raised at the rally. It also needs to be noted that all provinces of Pakistan along with Azad Kashmir were visibly represented in the crowd. A fiery speech by Br M. Ali who was draped in an American flag while closing the event was also a noteworthy feature of the proceedings.
It needs to be mentioned here that all Pakistani Americans (no matter which party they support in our country of origin) want to see a significant betterment in the daily lives of ordinary people whom they left behind in Pakistan. They also cherish that America and Pakistan enjoy a strong and friendly working relationship, especially on the economic front. The security front is not what they are trying to change here. Our community now has deep ties with America, its members are patriotic citizens, and have absorbed American democratic values. For that reason alone, we want to see democracy flourish in Pakistan too. The recent reported election rigging and strong-arm tactics there are painful to us.
We will close here with speaker J. Akhtar who did not use his own poetry this time but quoted revolutionary poet Faiz Sahib’s famous Nazm instead to relay his feelings. “Nisar Main Teri Galiyon Ke Ay Watan Ke Jahan, Chali Hai Rasm Ke Koi Na Sar Utha Ke Chale. Jo Koi Chahne Wala Tawaaf Ko Nikale, Nazar Churaa Ke Chale, Jism-o-Jaan Bachaa Ke Chale.” A true reflection on current events?
