London Protest: The Coup Against Musharraf

We have to narrate to everyone an extremely exciting and funny incident. We knew that Musharraf was coming to speak at the RUSI center in London. We prepared about 250 leaflets to give out to people and four CMKP members and a CAML member went to distribute these leaflets at the RUSI centre. When we got there we saw that there was a group of 35 young Pakistani studentswho were all standing on the street corner wearing impeccable suits. We asked them why they were so-well turned out and they told us that the Pakistan High Commission had invited them for a dinner with Musharraf through their respective Pakistan Societies at UCL and LSE.

At first we were quite dismayed since our people were running late and pro-Musharraf people had already arrived. We were five and they were 35.

But very soon we turned disadvantage into opportunity. At first we pretended to be part of their contingent and stood next to them. The funniest part was when Nadir Cheema began to shout "We want free dinner, Weare here for a free dinner". He did this in such a comic manner that it instantly attracted the press.

They asked us what we meant. We said that Musharraf has promised us a dinner and we are here to claim that dinner but we don't support Musharraf.

When Musharraf arrived the slogans of the five of us were so powerful (we really stretched our voices to the maximum) that the media people thought that the entire protest was anti-Musharraf.

Please take a look at the video report on BBC in which you can see CMKP cadres leading the chants.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7210000/newsid_7210300/7210362.stm?bw=nb\&mp=rm&asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1

This was a fine coup against supporters Musharraf.

Next we went to the Hilton where Musharraf was speaking to the Pakistani community. He passed right next to us and we shouted "Muk giya tera show Musharraf, Tu hain zalim diyo Musharraf, Hum hain teray piyo Musharraf, Ja kaybhanday dho Musharraf, Zia tera piyo Musharraf, Jat gaya sara ghayyo Musharra, Kala bay kay ro Musharraf, Go Musharraf Go Musharraf".

Here are some press reports about our campaign forMonday and also our activity with other political parties here in London. We have really done our verybest to make sure that Musharraf gets the reception he really deserves in London.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/World/Protest_cloud_over_Mush_UK_visit/articl\eshow/2732796.cms
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/world/storm+of+protest+greets+musharraf/14\11652
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j0upgLKuBAeIbWi0MKsKgb4ZpmVA
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5g_MdL-LeErkrWMxqn2iRAr3Z04ew
http://www.dawn.com/2008/01/22/top11.htm
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=ao2Z1NcCtG5Y&refer=uk
http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/303b19022816233b/id/321138/cs/1/
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/news/london-demonstration-mark-mushar\raf-visit-20080125

CMKP