Birmingham, UK 2nd October 2010 – Up to 300 men and women protested against Pervez Musharraf outside a rally in Birmingham that was organised to launch his political comeback.
Protesters smacked photos of Musharraf with shoes, prompting the former dictator to raise an offensive ‘V’ sign at them as he arrived.
The protesters held banners and placards and chanted slogans saying: “Musharraf and Zardari: Both Slaves of America” ; “Dr Aafia: Sold by Musharraf and abandoned by Zardari” ; ‘Pakistan needs Khilafat” ; and others calling for the replacement of the democracy and dictatorship which had caused so much misery in Pakistan for over 60 years, with an Islamic Khilafat government.
Speakers who addressed the rally in Urdu and English included Dr Imran Waheed, Rizwan Hussein and Dr Abdul Wahid from Hizb ut-Tahrir, as well community figures such as Mushtaq Raja and Imam Qaisar. They reminded the protestors that they had not forgotten Musharraf’s crimes of supporting America and Britain’s invasion of Afghanistan, the kidnapping of Dr Aafia Siddiqui and her children, the bombardment of innocent people in Waziristan, the betrayal of Kashmir, and opening Pakistan for the return of Benazir Bhutto and Asif Ali Zardari. They also called unanimously for a Khilafat system that would end western colonial enslavement of Pakistan, bring a just and accountable government and end the cycle of dictatorship and democracy that has plagued Pakistan.
Inside the jalsa, two respected local community figures with Hizb ut-Tahrir vocally accounted Musharraf for his killing of Muslims and selling of Dr Aafia, and were silenced by their removal from the building by Musharraf’s lackies.
The protest ended without event peacefully after duas asking for Allah’s Help to remove the corrupt and tyrant rulers like Zardari, Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif.
TV News Coverage – Pictures of Demonstration Below
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7cIfjG2xIE[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yh56NdmzOsc[/youtube]