Pakistani opposition holds rallies to demand PM step down

Thousands of supporters of Pakistan's opposition parties are rallying across the country, urging Prime Minister Imran Khan to step down over what they say is his failure in handling the nation's ailing economy.

Thursday's rallies, dubbed the "Black Day," marked the first anniversary of the parliamentary elections that brought Khan into office.

Khan's political opponents say Pakistan's military intervened in those elections on his behalf, allegations denied by the army.

About 10,000 people attended an opposition rally in the northwestern city of Peshawar. Similar rallies were to be held in other major cities.

The rallies came less than two weeks after Pakistani businesses observed a daylong strike against taxes, which the opposition says were imposed as part of the International Monetary Fund's recent USD 6 billion bailout package for Pakistan.