Go Nawaz Go

A Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf rally featuring the words Go Nawaz Go at the Minar-e-Pakistan.

Go Nawaz Go (Urdu: گو نواز گو) is a political slogan, used by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf members and its followers. The slogan was popularized during the Azadi March and Inqilab March protests against the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT) respectively. The slogan was used by Imran Khan, the chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf who ran a protest movement simultaneously.

History

Go Nawaz Go was first popularized during the Azadi March and Inqilab March, as a response to Anti-PTI chant Youthiya. This chant was also used by Tahir-ul-Qadri, the leader of Pakistan Awami Tehreek.[1][2][3][4][5][6] The slogan became vastly popular, receiving circulation in a short span of time, and its use has been extended into protests, public demonstrations, while also gaining popularity in non-political situations. Over time, the chant "Go Nawaz Go" became hugely popular and had been used many times at different events. On some occasions, the controversial slogan was chanted where members, and ministers of the PML(N) were present which caused the members and ministers as well relatives of Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif to hurriedly leave the area to avoid the embarrassing situation.[7][8][2][9][10] One of the other notable incidents where the chant caused chaos was during a graduation ceremony in University of Peshawar, when a student refused to receive the graduation certificate from the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and chanted "Go Nawaz Go" causing a major embarrassment,[11][12][13] while Karachi University also cancelled a ceremony in which laptops were to have been distributed amongst students, amid fears of slogan.[14][15] Gullu Butt also chanted "Go Nawaz Go" when he was sentenced to 11 years in jail but later got out by order of court.[16] Upon Nawaz's visit to US in order to attend 69th session of United Nations General Assembly, a large number of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf protestorsgathered outside the UN office and chanted "Go Nawaz Go".[17] After Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made some international tours to China, Germany and United Kingdom, Imran Khan said that Nawaz Sharif has misunderstood the meaning of "Go Nawaz Go", clarifying that, "Go Nawaz Go" does not mean going on international tours.[18][19] Imran also announced to mark a day as "Go Nawaz Go Day".[20] The slogan has also been used by spectators during sports events and matches, such as cricket.[21][22]

Reaction of Government

The Government of Pakistan became aware of this slogan and raised a challenged in the Lahore High Court.[23][24] The Government also started a crackdown against those chanting the anti-Nawaz slogan and made numerous arrests.[25] Pakistan Telecommunication Authority also instructed mobile phone operators to stop and curb the SMS's which included "Go Nawaz Go" characters.

Cultural influence

Inspired by the slogan, a game named Go Nawaz Go was released on the Google Play Store featuring a bat-wielding Imran Khan chasing a Nawaz Sharif.[26][27] Many songs have been written dedicating the slogan which are regularly played in rallies. One such official song of Go Nawaz Go which is sung by Axis band Pakistan break the record of most viewed song for the Go Nawaz Go Campaign.

The official website of Indian Prime Minister Modi was hacked by Pakistani hackers and put "Go Nawaz Go" slogan on the main page to protest [28] while in another major website hack of Pakistan's Foreign Ministry, Nawaz Sharif was shown as Shrek and balled as "Go Ganja Go", "Go Tind Go" and "Go Kadu Go".[29] The slogan also became one of the most used hashtags of the year on social media in Pakistan.

"Go Nawaz Go" campaign on currency bills was launched as well. Minister of Finance, Ishaq Dar and State Bank of Pakistan condemned the campaign of writing the political slogan on currency notes.[30]

Counter slogan

"Go Imran Go" and "Ro Imran Ro" ("Cry Imran, Cry") is the counter slogan used by PML-N supporters for Imran Khan.[6][31]

See also

• Azadi March
• Inqilab March
• Gullu Butt
• List of political slogans

References

1. "Pakistan Protests: Tahirul Qadri Launches 'Go Nawaz Go' Campaign on Currency Bills". International Business Times. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
2. "Balochistan University professor chants 'Go Nawaz Go' at laptop distribution event". The Express Tribune. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
3. "Do what you can, I am coming to Larkana on Nov 21". ARY News. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
4. "Imran declares 'decisive battle' on Nov 30". Samaa TV. 16 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
5. "'Go Nawaz Go' slogans to be heard in Raiwind soon: Imran". The Express Tribune. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
6. "'Go Imran go', 'go Nawaz go' in KP Assembly". Daily Times. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
7. "Shahbaz gets 'Go Nawaz Go' welcome in Bhawana". The Nations. 14 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
8. "Wazirabad scuffle". Dawn. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 28 November 2014.
9. "Locals boo Abid Sher with chants of 'Go Nawaz Go'". Pakistan Today. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
10. "'Go Nawaz Go' makes Abid Sher Ali leave venue". The Nation. 24 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
11. "Crowds chant 'Go Nawaz Go' forcing Hamza Shahbaz to cut short his speech". The Express Tribune. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
12. "UoP graduate shouts 'go Nawaz go' at convocation". Dawn. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
13. "Student refuses to receive degree from KP governor". The News. 31 October 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
14. "Karachi University shut for fear of 'Go Nawaz Go' slogans". The News Tribe. 11 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
15. "Fearing 'Go Nawaz Go', KU shuts down campus for laptop distribution ceremony". The Express Tribune. 10 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
16. "Gullu Butt sentenced to 11 years in jail". The News. 31 October 2014. Archived from the original on 7 January 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2014.
17. "PM's UN address meets 'Go Nawaz Go' protest". ARY News. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
18. "Attack on PTV building: Arrest warrants of Imran Khan, Tahirul Qadri issued". Dunya News. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
19. "Burn 'em all: Sheikh Rashid gives mutiny call from PTI stage". Pakistan Today. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
20. "Friday to be 'Go Nawaz Go' Day: Imran". Dawn. 17 September 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
21. Aijaz, Rahul (22 March 2017). "'Go Nawaz Go' sign pops up at WWE Raw". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
22. "Go Nawaz Go Slogans in Pakistan vs Australia Cricket Match At Dubai". Soch News. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
23. "Updates: 'Go Nawaz Go' slogan challenged in Lahore High Court". The Express Tribune. 1 October 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
24. ""Go Nawaz Go" challenged in Lahore High Court". The Nation. 4 October 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
25. "Pakistan government cracks down on anti-Sharif slogans". The Economic Times. 3 October 2014. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
26. "Khan chases Sharif with a bat in Go Nawaz Go app". Pakistan Today. 15 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
27. "Imran runs after PM in 'Go Nawaz Go' game". ARY News. 17 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
28. "Team Modi website hacked, displays 'Go Nawaz Go'". Dunya News. 29 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
29. "Nawaz Sharif as Shrek: Pak hackers deface nation's Foreign Min site". First Post. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
30. "Pakistan Protests: Tahirul Qadri Launches 'Go Nawaz Go' Campaign on Currency Bills". International Business Times. 14 September 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
31. "Commotion mars event as PTI, PML-N supporters exchange slogans". www.geo.tv. Retrieved 6 August 2017.