Human Rights, Civic Voice, and the Politics of February 8, PTI Dallas Hosts Protest Gathering
By: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada
Dallas: In the context of the February 8 protests, the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf and the Movement for the Protection of the Constitution of Pakistan organized a public protest gathering in Dallas, hosted by PTI Dallas, focused on human rights and civic participation. The event was held at a local banquet hall and brought together members of the Pakistani American community to voice concerns over democratic rights and constitutional governance in Pakistan.
The gathering was jointly organized by former PTI North Texas Coordinator Waqar Khan and PTI North America Coordinator Nadeem Zaman. The proceedings were moderated by local community leader Iqbal Hassan, who guided the discussion through a series of speeches and remarks centered on civic responsibility and political engagement.
Addressing the audience via video link from Pakistan, former Speaker of the National Assembly Asad Qaiser spoke alongside Canada based journalist Haider Mehdi. The speakers emphasized the critical role of overseas Pakistanis, urging the diaspora to remain organized and active in the defense of human rights and democratic values. They asserted that the public mandate in Pakistan had been undermined and called on the nation to collectively struggle for the restoration of the rule of law and the true spirit of the Constitution.
In his address, PTI USA Coordinator Nadeem Zaman said the core objective of the gathering was to highlight serious issues including human rights violations and transnational repression. He noted that overseas Pakistanis were already contributing through various human rights platforms but stressed the need for greater organization and sustained engagement to support constitutional supremacy and the rule of law in Pakistan.
A large number of PTI workers and overseas Pakistani leaders attended the event. Among them was Dr Sarfraz Khan, who spoke in detail about what he described as the alleged theft of PTI’s political mandate on February 2, calling it a severe blow to democratic norms and public trust.
The event also featured a poetic moment when poet and intellectual Shah Alam Siddiqui recited a poem dedicated to PTI Chairman Imran Khan, which was met with strong appreciation and applause from the audience.
Prior to the formal program, participants took part in a social hour where community members engaged in informal discussions. Those present included Dr Ayaz, Noman Khan, Dr Furqan, Pyar Ali, Dr Irfan, Ghulam Jhangda, Shadab Mehdi, Afshan Khan, Parveen Ali, Anwar Kazim, Sarfraz Ali, along with other PTI workers and prominent community figures.
The organizing committee comprised Nosheen Ahmed, Hassan Siddiqui, Atif Jamali, Hissam Hassan, and Iftikhar Ahmed, while audio and video arrangements were managed by Sameer Daga and Ikhlas Ahmed.
Throughout the event, PTI workers repeatedly chanted slogans in support of Chairman Imran Khan, filling the hall with visible political passion, commitment, and a strong sense of unity.
