On a Wednesday evening in early January, the line at Laziza Biryani in Ilford Lane is steadily growing. I am in Ilford — what some refer to as ‘mini-Pakistan’ — to gauge the mood of the Pakistani diaspora ahead of next month polls.

Every fifth person I spoke with said they are a die-hard supporter of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, and they feel a sense of despondency and apathy towards the upcoming polls. At the biryani joint, a framed photo of Mr Khan hangs on a wall next to posters of Laziza Hut’s catering packages.

Azeem, who is packing single and double plates of chicken biryani and pulao for his customers from behind the cash register, says the turnout will be poor. His friends and family are not voting, and have little interest in the election after Mr Khan’s disqualification. As customers overhear our conversation, one chants “jeeta ga bhai jeete ga, Imran Khan jeete ga”. It’s ironic, given that PTI candidates can no longer even contest under the ‘bat’ symbol.

One elderly gentleman, who has been residing in the UK since 1997, standing in line with his family, says, “Despondence is haram. We are still with him [Khan], they will prove nothing against him as these cases are frivolous. And without him in the election, the public will never accept the results.”

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As he lamented the treatment being meted out to Mr Khan by the powers that be, another customer waiting for biryani, Hamid, cut our conversation. “Imran Khan came to power saying he will control the establishment, that he will not give extensions. But his actions were the worst. Being ‘honest’ doesn’t automatically qualify someone to drive my car. They should also know how to drive. Only Zardari and Nawaz Sharif can run Pakistan,” Hamid said, as the elderly gentleman exclaimed “astaghfirullah”.

The mood among Pakistani diaspora at a London biryani joint reflects divided opinions, a sense of disenchantment

Hamid continues, “Pakistan is a country where people avoid taxes, they don’t want to work. So these seasoned politicians will ask the international community for investments, keep some for themselves and use the rest for development and public schemes. That is practical. My vote is actually for PML-N, at least Lahore hasn’t become Karachi. It’s neat and clean and the development in Punjab is visible.”

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“The only people here who support Imran Khan are those who have money. Back home, people were on the streets begging during the PTI government,” he said, finally getting his biryani and leaving the shop. As tempers cooled and the only non-PTI supporter left the vicinity, customers once again waxed lyrical about Mr Khan’s virtues.

The bustling Ilford Lane in east London is dotted with shops selling Pakistani food, clothes and bakery items. Scores of Pakistani men, women and children are either milling around, or then headed home after a long day at work or school.

Laziza Biryani isn’t the only store where the management has displayed its support for Mr Khan and his party. Rabia Khan, the co-owner and manager of a ladies’ fashion boutique, too, had a PTI flag displayed at the store counter. Asked to share her thoughts on the upcoming polls, she echoed the allegations Mr Khan popularised after his removal in 2022: “he was removed after an American conspiracy”.

She believes the diaspora has little power to change election outcome. “The establishment didn’t allow EVMs, but if they were allowed, PTI would get a major boost in the vote.”

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Asked for her views on Mr Khan’s performance in the government, she said, “I’m not politically inclined but I recall he launched the Ehsaas programme. My friends tell me he did good things and I believe he did.”

Outside a cigarette shop, one customer, Shahzeb, weighs in on Mr Khan’s chances. “I don’t think Khan sahib has a political future. He has been shut out, and unless a miracle happens, that’s where he will remain for the near future. Yes, there was interference in the 2018 election. But there is a black and white difference between then and the election now. The interference is undeniable, whereas earlier it was more subtle.”

Asked what he makes of Mr Khan’s resounding support in the UK, he says, “Yes the British Pakistani diaspora is a significant number here, and many support Khan. But when you think of it from the perspective of the population of Pakistan, their numbers are like salt in wheat flour. Doesn’t make much difference to anyone.”

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2024