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Pakistan: Imran Khan's PTI holds protests today on second anniversary of his arrest
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Monday (August 4) announced plans for nationwide protests on August 5, to mark the second anniversary of the arrest of its founder and former prime minister, Imran Khan.
The protests aim to draw attention to what the party describes as the unjust detention of Khan, who has been incarcerated since his arrest on August 5, 2023.
Khan was arrested at his residence in Lahore following a court conviction in a corruption case. Since then, he has remained in custody at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, facing additional convictions in other cases. The PTI, alongside an alliance of opposition parties known as the Tehreek Tahaffuz Ain-e-Pakistan (TTAP), has framed Khan's detention as 'illegal' and is mobilising a protest movement to demand his release.
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Allegations of atrocities towards PTI supporters
Zufiqar Bukhari, an adviser to Khan, condemned the Punjab government's response to the planned protests, alleging that authorities have already begun targeting PTI workers.
'Fearing protest by PTI, the Punjab Government has started arresting party workers, descending into madness by barging into their residences last night, without warrant or providing any arrestable offence,' Bukhari stated. He noted that arrests have occurred in Lahore and Rawalpindi, though he did not provide specific numbers.
Bukhari criticised the preemptive crackdown, saying, 'Their crime? Dare to state a protest, which is yet to happen. That's not lawful, that's tyranny.'
The Express Tribune reported that the PTI, under the TTAP banner, is preparing to launch a significant protest movement. At an emergency press conference on Sunday at the PTI District Secretariat in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), TTAP Secretary General Asad Qaiser outlined the plans. 'On August 5, a nationwide protest will be held under the flags of Pakistan, the PTI, and the white flag of peace,' Qaiser announced, stressing that the protests would remain peaceful and within the bounds of Pakistan's constitution and laws.
Qaiser highlighted the significance of the date, marking two years since Khan's 'illegal' arrest, and called for transparent legal proceedings.
'If there is any evidence against Khan, then it should be presented in an open court,' he urged. He praised Khan as a transformative leader, stating, 'Imran Khan is the most popular and dignified leader of this nation, who not only elevated Pakistan's image internationally but also gave the nation a vision.' Qaiser added that Khan's detention represents a 'direct attack on democracy, the Constitution, and the rule of law.'
PTI planning district-level protests
Rather than organising a centralised rally in Islamabad, the PTI has opted for district-level protests across the country, following Khan's instructions.
In Peshawar and Khyber districts, a rally led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur will commence at 3:30 pm from Hayatabad Toll Plaza on Ring Road and proceed to Qila Bala Hisar. In Swabi, protesters will gather at the Ambar Interchange for a day-long demonstration starting at 3:30 pm and continuing until Isha (evening) prayers. In Nowshera, a protest is planned at Khairabad, also beginning at 3:30 pm.
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To ensure widespread participation and documentation, all members of the National Assembly, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, and PTI ticket holders have been directed to record videos of their gatherings, either from their residences or protest starting points. These videos will be submitted to district organisations and forwarded to regional leadership for coordination.
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