Islamabad, April 11 (Agency) Supporters of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) came face-to-face with each other outside the residence of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif in London on Sunday, Dawn reported on Monday. Among the supporters one group celebrated (PML-N) and the other protested the ouster of PTI chairman Imran Khan from the prime ministers position on Saturday. As the supporters grew in number, so did the sloganeering from both sides and the only thing that prevent a full blown fight between the two groups was a heavy police presence which formed a chain between the two groups as they chanted slogans against each other’s leaders. The morning started with a few PML-N supporters gathering outside Nawaz Sharif’s Avenfield House residence to celebrate. Party supporters broke into a dance and chanted slogans in favour of Nawaz Sharif., while his bodyguards stood outside the main entrance of the apartment block.
His family members did not join their supporters outside. Just a stone’s throw away in the green expanses of Hyde Park, hundreds of PTI supporters demonstrated against Imran Khan’s ouster. Imran Khan’s UK spokesperson Sahibzada Jahangir shared a video message by their leader in which he called on the party’s supporters to gather at the park and then march to the US embassy to register their protest against the alleged “foreign interference by America in Pakistan”. The PTI said the purpose of their demonstration was to raise their voice against “regime change” and the Supreme Court’s decision, and to demand free and fair elections through electronic voting as well as the right of overseas Pakistanis to vote in the country’s elections. Emotions ran high on both sides with some PTI supporters were teary-eyed as they spoke about their anger over his ouster, the PML-N supporters were dancing in jubilation.
The PTI protesters condemned the alleged US role in Imran Khan’s removal, with many saying they believed the letter and conspiracy Imran Khan spoke of was real and not a made up story. Several of Imran Khan’s supporters were also critical of the military establishment, and blamed it for his exit, with some chanting, “No Imran, no remittances.” Although the PTI supporters had planned to march to the US embassy at 2pm, hundreds of people instead turned towards Park Lane and decided to take their protest to Avenfield House. Police raced ahead of the PTI demonstrators to create a divide between PML-N workers who were already outside Nawaz Sharif’s residence. As the two groups confronted each other, both sides chanted slogans in praise of their leader and denounced the other, the police was on high alert to prevent the situation from getting out of hand. PTI supporters shouted slogans like “boot polish, boot polish” as well as anti-US chants, while PML-N workers danced to the music and clapped.