When
I visited Pakistan earlier this year, little did I know that I would be
making history, by being part of the one of the world’s largest and
longest street demonstrations. As Imran Khan tweeted: “This morning I
walked around Azadi Square where people too congratulate them 4 setting
world record: 44 consecutive days at Azadi dharna. Commitment.” The
Azadi ‘freedom’ march began on the 14 August 2014 and coincided with
Pakistan’s 67
th independence-day. Living in a self-sustained
container and to the loud eruption of noise and sound of music,
appeared the cricket star, who I once sat down in my living room and
watched captain Pakistan win the world cup in 1992.
Now the cricketer turned politician, has different things on his
mind, although he cannot resist taking us down the memory lane, “In one
single ball, I will break the wicket of Nawaz Sharif and Zardari (the
former President of Pakistan).” Now, however he has a different
message, citing the poetry of Allama Iqbal, he wants a ‘Naya’ (new)
Pakistan. A new Pakistan, where the rich and elite from society, stop
dodging taxes, and which is free from economic misery, human rights
abuses, deprivation, electricity shortage and ultimately no more
corruption. In Khan’s words a “revolution” is happening. The Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf Facebook page has over 2,108,527 likes and it seems like
those numbers are now translated offline as the Azadi demonstrations
are awash with colours of green and red.
According to Khan, “Pakistani Awam Jaag Gaya” (Pakistan has woken
up). From, Islamabad where the heartbeat of the protest movement began
to the demonstrations in Karachi and Lahore, this freedom march is like
no other. It aims to reinvent Pakistan and hold those in power to
account. But change doesn’t come without trial and difficulty and Imran
Khan and those attending the demonstrations have risked arrest, death
and police brutality. Despite this, the sound beats of ‘Go Nawaz Go’
continue to get louder, so much so that one of Nawaz Sharif’s own
ministers, the President of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz KPK, Pir Sabir
Shah had to hold a press conference in Peshawar and apologize for
chanting ‘Go Nawaz go’ slogans at a convention by mistake. The slogan
which has been reverberating in Pakistan was even challenged in the
Lahore High Court because apparently it was causing ‘chaos’ and posed a
‘threat’ to society. Indeed, the Prime Ministers, daughter Maryam Nawaz
Sharif ,it appears she also had enough of the chanting, as she
tweeted: “Seems PMLN workers have had enough of PTI vandalism. A tit for
tat response & PTI won’t find a place to hide. Saw trailer in
Wazirabad today.”
The Prime Minister himself has tried to remain calm and collective in
the face of protest, but has been recently looking flustered and angry.
After going on a visit to the US, he met with a chorus of opposition
and finally broke his silence at a press conference urging Imran Khan to
stop holding the ‘Dharna’ (demonstration) and help families who were
victims of the recent water floods. Khan however it appears that PTI
has no plans of leaving yet, saying: “I’m not moving till Nawaz Sharif
resigns.”
However, the demonstrations continue to take place, as the country is
gripped with anticipation as the crowds continue to flock together to
get a glimpse of Imran Khan. For once, ordinary Pakistanis have had
enough of the ‘VIP’ culture that exists in Pakistan’s patriarchal
society and they want real change. There has been an upsurge in support
for Imran Khan and for once people genuinely believe he could be the
new Prime Minister in waiting. I believe, we are witnessing a momentous
occasion in Pakistani politics where finally people feel empowered to
come out on the streets, both men and women alike and want their voices
heard.
