Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party led by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has announced plans to stage countrywide protests next month, marking the completion of one year since Khan’s arrest. The demonstrations are scheduled to take place on August 5, the anniversary of Khan’s detention, which PTI claims was unjust and politically motivated.
Imran Khan, the 71-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician, was arrested on August 5, 2023, from his residence in Lahore. His arrest followed his conviction in the Toshakhana case, filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). The case centered on allegations that Khan had concealed the sale of gifts he received from the state repository.
Former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser confirmed that PTI plans to hold large rallies and protests across Pakistan on the anniversary. “On August 5, we will hold rallies and large demonstrations across Pakistan on two issues,” Qaiser stated at a press conference. “Firstly, we will protest against Imran Khan’s illegal arrest in a fabricated case. Secondly, we will address the severe inflation impacting the masses and the imprisonment of other PTI members.”
Qaiser called on the public to support PTI’s protests against both Khan’s arrest and the rising cost of living. He criticized the ongoing detention of Khan, who remains incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s high-security Adiala Jail despite the Islamabad High Court suspending his original conviction.
The PTI leader also condemned what he described as an official crackdown on party members and supporters. “The dignity of Parliament is in question if lawmakers are being humiliated,” Qaiser said. He demanded the withdrawal of what he termed “baseless cases” against PTI members and warned of potential nationwide sit-ins if his demands are not met. Qaiser also invited other political parties to join PTI’s protests, labeling the current government as “fake.”
Omar Ayub Khan, PTI’s secretary general, echoed these sentiments, alleging that party-affiliated lawmakers are being unjustly targeted by agencies and accused of corruption. He further accused the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of attempting to create discord between PTI and the military. Ayub Khan called for immediate fresh elections as a solution to the ongoing political turmoil.
Sources By Agencies
