1 week ago
There is a prisoner who is challenging the Pakistani establishment from behind bars. Imran Khan's supporters are celebrating him as 'Qaidi Number 804' as they believe he has been jailed for taking on the all-powerful military of Pakistan. From songs to shoes to chants during T20 matches, 'Qaidi Number 804' is everywhere in Pakistan.
Tens of thousands of supporters of Imran Khan and members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party took part in Sunday's protest rally on the outskirts of Islamabad. (Photo by AFP)
New Delhi,UPDATED: Sep 10, 2024 19:44 IST
"Mera yaar, tera yaar, Qaidi Number 804," is a chant that has been trending in Pakistan. That was heard during a Pakistan Super League (PSL) match in February and at a huge rally in Islamabad on Sunday, September 8. 'Qaidi Number 804' is no one but Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, locked away in jail for a year now. Despite being away from the public eye, Imran Khan's popularity has surged, and he continues to challenge the Pakistani establishment from behind bars.
That outpouring of support was seen in the jalsa or rally by his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), where tens of thousands of Imran Khan supporters sought his release from jail and 'haqeeqi azadi'. PTI, which was derecognised before the February 8 general election, claimed "heavy shelling" as its supporters clashed with police.
The captain who led Pakistan to its cricket World Cup victory in 1992, turned into a politician, promising "naya Pakistan", and became the Prime Minister in 2018. On August 5 last year, Imran Khan was arrested.
Still revered as 'Kaptaan' (captain), Imran was first held at Attock Jail, then moved to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
The former PM thus became a celebrated qaidi or prisoner. The prisoner identification number, 804, that was assigned to him turned Imran into the legendary 'Qaidi Number 804'.
THE CRAZE FOR QAIDI NUMBER 804
Simple searches on social media platforms like X for Qaidi 804, Qaidi Number 804 and Qaidi No 804 show songs, posters and chants dedicated to the special inmate of Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail.
One of the clips is of a Pakistan Super League (PSL) match when the crowd is heard chanting "Qaidi Number 804". In another cricket match, a couple were seen wearing a Pakistani jersey bearing the number '804' on its back. Another video is of a motor rally where a song on Qaidi Number 804 can be heard.
The popularity of Imran Khan as 'Qaidi Number 804' was on display during Eid festivities in April.
Hundreds of customers thronged to Peshawar's Namak Mandi in search of leather sandals emblazoned with the number 804, reported Arab News. One of the shops selling the 804 footwear was Kaptaan Chappal Shop of Chacha Noor-ud-Din.
“I made and named this sandal ‘Qaidi 804’ this year and its demand went up abruptly. People have been asking for it, leading to its current shortage,” Chacha Noor-ud-Din told Arab News.
In December last year, popular Pakistani Punjabi folk singer Malkoo was detained by police while performing the song 'Qaidi 804', Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported.
Here's Malkoo's song Qaidi No 804, which has around 2 million views on YouTube.
Malkoo, however, trashed reports that he was detained for performing the song at Lok Mela festival 2023.
'Qaidi Number 804' T-shirts are selling on e-commerce platforms like Amazon.
IMRAN KHAN IN PRISON FOR TAKING ON PAK'S MILITARY?
Imran Khan faces over 200 cases and has been convicted in a few. He was expected to walk out of jail this week after a verdict by a local court in the Iddat case, related to his marriage with Bushra Bibi. The Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested him moments after the verdict in the Toshakhana case, in which Imran Khan is accused of retaining and selling valuable gifts he received as PM.
His supporters say that he has had to pay the heavy price for taking on the all-powerful military establishment, which holds the real reins of power in Pakistan.
Imran's arrest saw attacks on offices and residences of top military officers.
In July, when Imran told a British newspaper that he had been "caged like a terrorist", the government countered him by saying that he was getting VIP treatment in jail. An LED television, a room cooler, a study desk, and a chair were among the items available to him in his prison cell.
POPULARITY OF IMRAN KHAN AS QAIDI NUMBER 804
It isn't just in Pakistan, 'Qaidi Number 804' flex cards and rallies have been taken outside Pakistan too by a section of the diaspora that supports Kaptaan. On the eve of the Islamabad jalsa on Sunday, hundreds of cars cruised on the streets of Houston in the US in support of the 'Qaidi Number 804'.
In solidarity with their "brethren in Pakistan", the members of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in Houston, Texas, took out a massive car rally and bike rally on Saturday.
The rally, in solidarity with their "brethren in Pakistan", was attended by hundreds of SUVs and cruising bikes, according to Overseas PTI leader Sajjad Burki. He said the rally was organised in "support of the Islamabad jalsa to release Imran Khan".
One such flex board came up in El Raval district of Barcelona, one of the most notorious and dangerous districts in Spain.
That massive support for Imran was recently encapsulated in a remark by PTI leader Amir Mughal.
"If Asim Munir, the Chief of Army Staff, has an army of 7,00,000 soldiers behind him, then Imran Khan, the chief of aawami staff has 250 million people behind him," said Mughal.
Tens of thousands of those supporters had got together in Islamabad on September 8, seeking the release of their 'Qaidi Number 804' who is challenging the Pakistani establishment from behind bars.
Published By:
Sushim Mukul
Published On:
Sep 10, 2024
