Pakistani politician promises to overthrow prime minister with massive demonstrations

By Dustin M Braden - 19 Aug '14 12:05PM

Pakistani politician Imran Khan, leading a march of thousands of supporters and government opponents, has promised to overthrow the democratically elected Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Reuters reports that Khan alleges Sharif's government, which has been in power for only 15-months, stole the election that brought Sharif to power. As Khan made his promise, the Pakistani government deployed thousands of riot police and soldiers to a zone of the capital that houses the organs of Pakistani political power, including the Parliament.

Dawn, a Pakistani newspaper, is referring to this area as the "Red Zone."

Khan is the leader of Pakistan's third-largest political group, Tahreek-I-Insaf. He has promised to personally lead the march into the Red Zone. Khan is one of the best cricket players in Pakistani history. He then leveraged this fame to enter into politics.

Dr. Tahirul Qadri is joining Khan in his effort. Qadri is the leader of a network of Islamic schools and charities, according to Reuters. While Khan claims the election that brought Sharif to power was stolen, and that is the motivation behind his protests, Qadri has said he is joining the protests because of government corruption.

Reuters says the Red Zone is currently sealed off with barricades manned by armed police and soldiers. The barricades are made from shipping containers and barbed wire.

Qadri has said that he and his supporters will enter the Red Zone when they are given permission.

Dawn notes that a number of protesters are equipped with goggles and masks to protect themselves from tear gas. A great many are also said to be brandishing sticks as weapons.

In a worrying development, a separate Dawn report says that a number of women and children will be participating in Khan's march into the Red Zone. Dawn also says that the younger protesters prepared for clashes with police will be behind the groups of women and children, with Khan and his party's leadership at the forefront of the march.