KARACHI: Charged with anti-American sentiments, supporters of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Friday gathered in multiple Pakistani cities in solidarity with Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is facing a no-confidence vote in parliament later this week. 

The rallies came days after PM Khan spoke of a purported letter that contained threats to his government. On Thursday, Khan named the United States (US) in a televised address to the nation, accusing Washington of backing a campaign aimed at ousting him.

He said the move was aimed at keeping Pakistan from pursuing an independent foreign policy. Washington has denied the allegations.

In Karachi, the largest metropolis of the country, participants of the ‘Karvan-e-Wafa’ rally gathered at Mazar-e-Quaid, the mausoleum of the father of the nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and passed through different areas of the city, before converging on the Teen Talwar roundabout in Clifton, the party’s stronghold, from where it got a massive boost in 2013.

In his speech, Haleem Adil Sheikh, PTI leader and opposition leader in Sindh Assembly, said the no-confidence motion against the prime minister was brought because Khan was pursuing an independent foreign policy.

“What’s the fault of Imran Khan? What crime has he committed,” Sheikh asked. "His only crime is to say 'absolutely not' and pursue an independent policy." 

He said former Pakistan prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and his daughter, Benazir Bhutto, also tried to have an independent foreign policy and were eventually killed, he noted. 

Deposed in a military coup by then Pakistan army chief General Zia-ul-Haq, Bhutto was controversially tried and executed in 1979 for authorizing a hit on a political opponent. His daughter, Benazir, also a former prime minister, was killed in a gun and bomb attack in Rawalpindi in December 2007. 

“Imran Khan has declared that Pakistanis are self-esteemed and a sovereign nation and we will take all decisions keeping our national interests supreme and without falling for the wishes of the foreign powers,” Sheikh said.

“Traitors of Pakistan leading different political parties have been exposed before the nation. We have seen the traders of conscience buying loyalties and selling them for dollars, but everyone must know that we Pakistanis are not a slave nation.” 

Attended by hundreds, including women, the rally in Karachi witnessed fiery speeches in support of Khan’s idea of an independent foreign policy, struggle against Islamophobia and measures to turn Pakistan into the state of Madina. The participants chanted slogans translating to “those who are friends with America are traitors” and “those who are friends with Zardari are traitors.”

Khan, who has apparently lost majority in parliament after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) coalition party jumped ship and defections by some of his party’s disgruntled lawmakers, says he will not resign and face the no-trust vote on Sunday. 

PTI Sindh lawmaker Khurram Sherzaman said Khan was the first leader of any Muslim state who effectively raised his voice on the issues of blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and the menace of Islamophobia at international forums.

“Now it is up to the Pakistani nation to stand united and support Imran Khan’s battle for self-respect and sovereignty of the homeland,” Sherzaman said. 

Bilal Ghaffar, the PTI Karachi president, said three leaders of the opposition had approached their “foreign masters” to topple the government.

Mahjabeen Rajput, a participant at the rally, said she had come out in support of Khan because of his policies. “We are here to support Prime Minister Imran Khan who has stood up against thieves and who wants to bring a system where law is equal for all,” she said. 

PTI supporters held rallies in different cities of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which is ruled by Khan's party. 

Enraged workers set fire to a US flag at one such rally in the provincial capital of Peshawar.