Analysts estimate number of participants in PTI’s Peshawar power show
The local and international analysts are making conflicting claims regarding the number of participants in the massive public gathering.
Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has addressed a massive power show in Peshawar after being ousted from his office following a no-trust motion.
Imran Khan’s anti-US narrative is gaining popularity among the nationals with each passing day as he alleged a foreign conspiracy to topple the PTI government.
Despite the fasting days during Ramadan, a large number of citizens including women have participated the Peshawar power show. The local and international analysts are making conflicting claims regarding the number of participants in the massive public gathering.
Imran Khan says ‘will become more dangerous’ after ouster from office
Mahmood Jan Babar, a senior journalist from Peshawar, described the PTI’s power show as a big rally which was attended by a large number of women.
کتنے ادمی تھے!
حکومت ختم ہونے کے بعد پشاور میں عمران خان کا پہلا جلسہ۔ سینئر صحافی علی اکبر کا تجزیہ#امپورٹڈ_حکومت_نامنظور #امپورٹڈ_گورمنٹ_نامنظور pic.twitter.com/nqEDqfuamo
— Mehmood Jan Babar (@MehmoodJan1) April 13, 2022
Ali Akbar, the bureau chief of Dawn News Peshawar, estimated that the number of participants in the rally was around 50,000 to 60,000. He added that headlines of such rallies used to be made as millions which is meant by a huge crowd.
محمود جان بندے تو اتنے ہی تھے، باقی اپوزیشن والے 60000 سے ایک صفر کم کرکے 6 ہزار اور پی ٹی آئی والے ایک صفر لگا کر 6 لاکھ کر لیں! https://t.co/R1PwwY9gfF
— AliAkbar (@AliGunjai) April 13, 2022
Senior journalist Anas Mallick said in a tweet that it would be wrong to underestimate the street power of Imran Khan as PTI has managed to gather a huge crowd in Peshawar. It was, of course, one of the largest gatherings in the city’s history.
Would be wrong to underestimate the strength of today’s crowd that Imran Khan and PTI has managed to pull today in Peshawar – Definitely one of the biggest in the city’s history. #Pakistan
— Anas Mallick (@AnasMallick) April 13, 2022
Sana Jamal, a Pakistani journalist affiliated with Gulf News, wrote in a tweet that a large number of people have gathered in Peshawar for Imran Khan. Pakistanis are demanding immediate, free and fair elections.
Massive, massive crowd in Peshawar for @ImranKhanPTI. Pakistanis are demanding immediate, free and fair elections. #PeshawarJalsa pic.twitter.com/1Jx4czjr2b
— Sana Jamal (@Sana_Jamal) April 13, 2022
Much helpful for those counting number of people at @ImranKhanPTIʼs #PeshawarJalsa pic.twitter.com/shImNuPjRP
— Sana Jamal (@Sana_Jamal) April 13, 2022
Senior journalist Iftikhar Firdous said, “Quite a power show by PTI in #Peshawar.. considering the comparison with the previous gathering before Imran Khan was ousted from office. There were families in cars who couldn’t make it to the ground.”
Quite a power show by PTI in #Peshawar.. considering the comparison with the previous gathering before Imran Khan was ousted from office. There were families in cars who couldn’t make it to the ground. pic.twitter.com/jEskZ1U7VU
— Iftikhar Firdous (@IftikharFirdous) April 13, 2022
Baker Atyani wrote, “Scenes from a rally in support of deposed Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in Peshawar now. Huge gathering for a Ramadan night. #Peshawar”
Scenes from a rally in support of deposed Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in Peshawar now. Huge gathering for a Ramadan night. #Peshawar pic.twitter.com/Prka12SwaP
— Baker Atyani (@atyanibaker) April 13, 2022
“Pakistani media blackout this big show of former PM Imran Khan in #Peshawar last night. It would more damage its credibility inside and outside the country because being a media it’s their professional duty to give space to all parties,” said Islamuddin Sajid.
Pakistani media blackout this big show of former PM Imran Khan in #Peshawar last night. It would more damage its credibility inside and outside the country because being a media it’s their professional duty to give space to all parties pic.twitter.com/v2LKNx2zIf
— Islamuddin Sajid (@islamudinsajid) April 13, 2022
Samaa TV Peshawar Bureau Chief Tariq Afaq claimed that the number of participants in the Peshawar rally was more than 20,000. The number of local citizens of Peshawar was very small.
آزاد ذرائع کے مطابق پشاور جلسہ میں شرکاء کی تعداد 20 ہزار سے زائد تھی۔۔۔۔۔جلسے میں کوہاٹ،نوشہرہ،مردان،صوابی،چارسدہ،ملاکنڈ، مہمند اور خیبر کے کارکنوں نے شرکت کی۔۔۔پشاور کے مقامی شہریوں کی تعداد بہت کم تھی۔۔۔عمران خان کی تقریر کے دوران ہی دور اضلاع کے کارکن واپس چلے گئے تھے۔
— Tariq Afaq (@tariqafaq) April 14, 2022
Arif Yousafzai, a journalist from Peshawar, also described the rally as good in terms of public participation, but said that given the circumstances, the turnout should have been higher. Finally, workers from all over Pakhtunkhwa were called.
Commenting on the Peshawar meeting, senior foreign and defense affairs analyst Huma Baqai tweeted, “The Peshawar jalsa is indicative of a trend that will not stop … thus it must be addressed if we don’t want the country to get more polarised , IKs narrative is getting stronger by the day.”
The Peshawar jalsa is indicative of a trend that will not stop … thus it must be addressed if we don’t want the country to get more polarised , IKs narrative is getting stronger by the day
— Huma Baqai (@_baqai) April 13, 2022
She added, “We can disagree on IK’s politics , Man sure is a crowd puller, recent events have turned him into a saviour, all his political blunders and poor governance stand forgotten , people see him as Pakistans only saviour.”
We can disagree on IK’s politics , Man sure is a crowd puller, recent events have turned him into a saviour, all his political blunders and poor governance stand forgotten , people see him as Pakistans only saviour
— Huma Baqai (@_baqai) April 13, 2022
Steve Hanke, a columnist of The Economist, tweeted, “Thousands of cars blocked the roads as they headed into Peshawar for a nighttime rally in support of Imran Kahn. Take a look.”
Thousands of cars blocked the roads as they headed into Peshawar for a nighttime rally in support of Imran Kahn. Take a look.https://t.co/kVmdoHadN4
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) April 14, 2022
“Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in KPK, one of the 4 provinces of Pakistan, to protest against the removal of Imran Khan. The media has been threatened w/ “serious consequences” if it continues to report on the protests. Take a look”
Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets in KPK, one of the 4 provinces of Pakistan, to protest against the removal of Imran Khan. The media has been threatened w/ “serious consequences” if it continues to report on the protests. Take a lookpic.twitter.com/5YIHJUemLf
— Steve Hanke (@steve_hanke) April 13, 2022
