LONDON: Imran Khan and Jemima Khan appeared together in public for the first time since they divorced in 2004 to lead a big protest rally of Pakistanis in front of 10 Downing Street where President Pervez Musharraf was meeting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown here on Monday.
The high profile divorced couple stood side by side in front of the prime minister’s office for some time, where a large number of overseas Pakistanis had gathered to protest the arrival of Musharraf in London and his “anti-democratic” steps in Pakistan.
Many believe here that this was one of the biggest rallies of overseas Pakistanis in the recent days who had gathered to protest against Musharraf’s policies. The protesters kept on chanting slogans against Musharraf for more than two hours without any break. The intensity of the slogans was so powerful that these could be heard from a long distance. The PPP and PML-N activists were also present there in a large number.
The international and Pakistani media was present there to cover this event. But, the most striking attraction in the whole demonstration was the presence of Imran and Jemima. Both Imran and Jamima stood in the front row facing the office of Prime Minister Brown. However, Imran left the venue after staying there for some time. While Jemima stayed back with the demonstrators and kept on shouting slogans against Musharraf’s action against the civil society, democracy, judiciary and lawyers.
In the past, Jamima Khan had been participating in such demonstrations outside 10-Downing Street and Pakistan High Commission when General Pervez Musharraf imposed emergency in the country on November 3 last year. Jemima had even participated in the demonstrations which were held to protest the arrest of Imran Khan in Pakistan. She also used to bring her two sons along with her to push for the demand of release of their father. But, on Monday, both Qasim and Suleman were missing from the scene of demonstration.
A small number of people carrying the pictures of President Musharraf were also present outside the 10-Downing Street there to appreciate his policies in Pakistan. They were also chanting slogans in favour of Musharraf and welcomed his arrival in London.
Their presence created a big stir in the law enforcement agencies who feared that both the groups of Pakistanis might clash with each other. A heavy contingent of police force was deployed between the two groups
After chanting slogans against Musharraf, the anti-govt demonstrators turn their focus to the pro-Musharraf people and raised slogans against them for supporting the president. The overseas Pakistanis were also carrying the pictures of Benazir Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif. A large number of Baloch nationalists were also present there, carrying anti-Musharraf placards.
The protesters were also carrying placards inscribed with slogans like “restore the judges”, “Musharraf should go”, “restore democracy in Pakistan” and “respect the human rights of the people of Pakistan”. The demonstrators kept sloganeering till Musharraf left the office of the prime minister around 2 pm.
