[Testimonial by Rania Haseeb on Dubai T-20 and
#AzadiSquare Movement]
5th October 2014. A day we couldn’t wait for. It was Imran Khan’s birthday (and my birthday too!) and we had booked tickets for the Pak-Aus T20 in Dubai. Everyone following our cricket team knew that chances to win were slim; nevertheless, excitement for the match was at fever pitch. But interestingly, this excitement came not from any hopes of winning but the thought of chanting GO NAWAZ GO in Dubai.
Posters were painted and placards printed. The day of the match arrived and we made our way to the stadium only to find traffic choked for 3kms – it seemed that all Pakistani expats had turned out in a show of support not only for our cricket team but also for PTI. People on the road were chanting GO NAWAZ GO. They carried banners with the same message, wore accessories in red and green and belted out PTI taranas at full volume on their car stereos. It seemed like a PTI rally ahead of a Jalsa rather than people making their way to a cricket match!
Upon reaching the stadium we found a strange exercise being carried out at the first checkpoint. The security personnel were asking everyone to open their posters so that they could read the messages on them. At this stage one of our
#GoNawazGo banners was confiscated. Another round of checks ensued and at this point security asked us to step aside because we were carrying a poster. A scuffle ensued with the guard manhandling some of our party, which eventually led to profuse apologies by an Arab official along with explanations that political slogans could not be allowed in the stadium.
Despite the tight security, when we finally reached inside the stadium a heartening sight awaited us: In true Pakistani style people had managed to surpass all efforts by the security personnel and somehow managed to sneak in posters, banners and flags. No sooner had we been seated that a wave of GO NAWAZ GO rocked the stadium. As much as they would’ve wanted to, the administration could not seal the lips of 25,000 spectators. Every cheer, every clap, every applaud for the team was followed by GO NAWAZ GO. The children and the elderly, the families and the single men, the blue-collar workers and the white collar worker, ALL joined in this 60-day old movement that has broken all sorts of records and inspired Pakistanis all over the World to stand up against the status quo.
That day banners were confiscated and the crowd wasn’t given any TV coverage but all present knew that the pulse of the spectators was beating only one message GO NAWAZ GO. What a fitting birthday present for our Kaptaan!