Thousands gather for anti-government protest in Pakistan

Islamabad, Pakistan – Thousands gathered in the central Pakistani city of Gujranwala to protest the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan, as an opposition alliance kicked off a campaign it hopes will be able to take advantage of rising prices and other frustrations to overthrow the government. The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), an alliance of 11 opposition parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League’s Nawaz faction (PML-N), the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), and the Jamiat Ulema Islam’s Fazl faction (JUI-F), held its first major public demonstration on Friday after being formed last month. Important leaders from each of those main opposition parties addressed the gathering, including PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and JUI-F chief Fazl-ur-Rehman. Sharif spoke live via video link from London, capital of the United Kingdom, where he has resided since leaving Pakistan on medical bail as he continues to appeal corruption convictions issued by an Islamabad court. He accused the country’s army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, of toppling his government, pressuring the judiciary, and installing Khan in the 2018 elections. “General Qamar Javed Bajwa, you packed up our government, which was working well, and put the nation and the country at the alter of your wishes,” Sharif said in comments that were censored on all Pakistani television channels, based on government orders. style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; right: 0; left: 0;">