Renowned rockstar Roger Waters, frontman of the iconic band Pink Floyd, has publicly stood in solidarity with Imran Khan, the leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), amidst the controversy surrounding the 2024 elections.
Despite Imran Khan’s imprisonment, he continues to command popularity not only within Pakistan but also globally. The recent elections witnessed PTI members winning majority seats as independent candidates, even with many facing incarceration during the campaign season.
The election results and Imran Khan’s imprisonment have captured global attention, prompting Roger Waters to express unexpected support for the PTI leader. Waters shared a social media post featuring a montage of Imran Khan’s iconic moments as both a cricketer and a politician.
In a powerful caption addressing the military rulers of Pakistan and their alleged “masters” in Washington, Waters introduced himself as an English musician and a passionate supporter of fair play. He criticized the situation in Pakistan, stating, “What you are doing in Pakistan is not Cricket.”
Waters called for the immediate release of Imran Khan from what he labeled as “false imprisonment,” emphasizing the importance of Khan leading PTI in a transparent election. He underscored the necessity of a democratically elected government in Pakistan that genuinely reflects the will of its people, rather than serving the interests of foreign and domestic oligarchs.
This statement from Roger Waters follows his history of activism, particularly in advocating for peace in Gaza. Waters recalled canceling a 2016 concert in Israel upon discovering the venue was built on Palestinian graves, opting to perform in an agricultural community instead. During this concert, Waters urged the younger Israeli generation to pursue peace with their neighbors, receiving a varied response from enthusiasm to silence.
Reflecting on his visit to the Israeli-occupied West Bank after the concert, Waters highlighted mistreatment from Israeli border guards and expressed concern about the plight of Palestinians under Israeli occupation. He condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” and denounced ongoing attacks that have disproportionately affected women and children, emphasizing his commitment to advocating for justice and fairness on a global scale.”
