ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, plans to hold nationwide protests across Pakistan today, Wednesday, to mark three years since his imprisonment, with parallel demonstrations planned across the country and by supporters overseas.
Khan, Pakistan’s former cricket captain-turned-politician, has been in prison since August 2023 after being convicted in a corruption case. He has since been sentenced or charged in numerous other cases ranging from corruption and leaking state secrets to violating marriage laws. Khan and his party deny all wrongdoing, saying the cases are politically motivated and aimed at keeping him out of politics.
Pakistan’s government rejects those allegations, insisting the legal proceedings are independent.
“Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf will hold nationwide protests on Wednesday, August 5, to mark three years since the illegal imprisonment of former Prime Minister Imran Khan,” the party said in a statement.
“The demonstrations will take place across Pakistan, with parallel events planned by overseas supporters in several countries.”
The protests are the latest in a series of demonstrations organized by PTI since Khan’s arrest. The party has repeatedly mobilized supporters demanding his release and fresh elections, although many of its rallies have faced restrictions by authorities and some have descended into violence.
The most serious unrest followed Khan’s first arrest in May 2023, when supporters attacked military installations and other state buildings in several cities. Authorities responded with a sweeping crackdown, arresting thousands of PTI workers and leaders, while military courts were later authorized to try some civilians accused of involvement in the attacks.
PTI has also staged repeated nationwide protests since Pakistan’s February 2024 general election, alleging the vote was rigged despite candidates backed by the party winning the largest number of seats as independents after PTI was stripped of its election symbol. The party has accused the government and the military of manipulating the electoral process, allegations both deny.
Pakistan’s election commission barred PTI from contesting the election as a political party after ruling it had failed to comply with electoral requirements, forcing its candidates to contest as independents. Despite that setback, PTI-backed candidates emerged as the single largest bloc in the National Assembly, although rival parties later formed a coalition government.
Khan, who was ousted as PM in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022, is arguably Pakistan’s most popular opposition politician according to several opinion polls. His party has vowed to continue nationwide protests until he is released and what it describes as its electoral mandate is restored.
