Supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan clashed with security forces as they marched on Islamabad’s streets Wednesday calling for new elections.
The protest march came after Khan was ousted as Prime Minister by a parliamentary vote of no confidence on April 10, 2022.
According to reports, tear gas was used to disperse the crowds and many supporters of the former prime minister were detained.
“This is a call from Imran Khan to all of us to come out and support the Azadi (freedom) march. It’s a march that we want to be a part of because I remember when Gandhi was asked in South Africa why he are going to go back to India, and you have a successful place over here and you are a successful lawyer. So he said that if you want a change, you have to be a part of the change. So I’m here to be a part of the change ,” said Sadiqa Malik, an overseas Pakistani returning to the country to support the ousted Prime Minister.
“I’m here on the instructions of our chairman Imran Khan to reshape the history of Pakistan, to reshape the structure of Pakistan and to reshape the political system of Pakistan,” said Taqi Akhunzada, a member of the executive committee of Khan’s PTI Party.
Khan said he was glad that the nation had united against the “imported government” which he says is propped up by the United States.
Addressing the crowd, Khan said he was providing the coalition government with ample time to hold general elections in June.
He gave the government a six-day deadline to announce a date for new general elections, warning that he would once again march on the capital with the “entire nation” if the government failed to do so.
He accused the new government of seizing power to quash cases of corruption against their own members.
With Pakistan facing a severe economic crisis, many fear the consequences of further political turmoil.