ISLAMABAD — A large number of PTI supporters took to the streets across Pakistan on Sunday against the ouster of former Prime Minister Imran Khan through a vote of no-confidence called by the country’s opposition..

Men, women and children all took part in rallies held in dozens of cities, decked in red and green and chanting slogans against the new government set to take charge, reports Dawn.

Karachi, Peshawar, Malakand, Multan, Khanewal, Khyber, Jhang, Quetta, Okara, Islamabad, Lahore and Abbottabad, Bajaur, Lower Dir, Shangla, Kohistan, Mansehra, Swat, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Nowshera, Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujranwala and Mandi Bahauddin are among the cities were large demonstrations were held.

Taking to Twitter late Sunday night, Imran Khan thanked the thousands of protesters who came out in his support.

“Thank you to all Pakistanis for their amazing outpouring of support & emotions to protest against US-backed regime change abetted by local Mir Jafars to bring into power a coterie of pliable crooks all out on bail. Shows Pakistanis at home & abroad have emphatically rejected this,” he said.

On Sunday evening before the protests were staged, the former premier had tweeted: “Pakistan became an independent state in 1947; but the freedom struggle begins again today against a foreign conspiracy of regime change. It is always the people of the country who defend their sovereignty & democracy.”

In capital Islamabad, the protest started from the city’s Zero Point, leading to traffic snarl at the Srinagar Highway, reports Dawn news.