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