Why 'Million March' turned into a nightmare for Pakistan People's Party: Explained

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was forced to leave the stage at the "Million March" in London when protesters reportedly started throwing water bottles, tomatoes and eggs at the leader.

What is 'Million March' rally?

• A Pakistani group organised the rally named as 'Million March' on Sunday in London to demand a peaceful solution to the Kashmir issue.
• The rally was carried out from Trafalgar Square to Downing Street in London.
• The march was led by Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, referred to as a former prime minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
• Organisers said the march was "to protest against human rights violations by Indian troops in occupied Kashmir".
• The organisers were planning to submit a petition asking the British Government "to impress upon India to resolve the Kashmir dispute"
• Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and his sister Aseefa Bhutto Zardari also participated in the rally.

Why the rally proved to be a monumental failure?

• According to reports, when Bilawal started addressing the rally, some miscreants threw bottles, eggs at the stage forcing him to leave the rally venue.
• Protesters objected to Bhutto's presence, chanted 'Go Bilawal Go' and 'Go Nawaz Go'.
• Bhutto was later led away under protection.
• The police stepped in and ended the rally.
• Some protesters said the march was to be about Kashmir and it has nothing to do with Bilawal.
• They were angry because they thought that Bilawal wanted to use the platform to launch his political career.
• While the organisers claimed overwhelming support from various communities for the march, others dismissed it as against the "interest of the people of J&K".

Who is responsible?

• Reports suggest that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan's nephew, Hassan Niazi, was also involved in the controversy.
• He was detained by the UK police after the incident.