ISLAMABAD: Former Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Friday he would announce the next “critical phase” of his anti-government movement on Saturday, as he continues to mount pressure on the government to announce a date for the upcoming general elections in Pakistan.  

Since he was ousted by parliament in April this year, Khan has demonstrated his popularity with mass rallies across the country to force the government of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to hold snap elections.

Sharif and his coalition government, however, have rejected Khan’s demand and said elections will be held as per schedule in 2023.

“Tomorrow [on Saturday] our Gujranwala jalsa [rally] will be last of our present phase of Haqiqi Azadi Movement [True Freedom Movement]. I will announce the next critical phase at the jalsa,” the former PM wrote on Twitter.  

Khan accused the government and its “handlers”—without specifying whom he was referring to—of attempting to sideline him from politics.  

“Imported govt & its handlers are so petrified that nation is standing firmly behind PTI they are desperately moving on Minus 1 formula,” he wrote.  

The government has not responded to Khan’s statement.

Earlier, a senior member of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, Asad Umar, urged the party’s supporters to take to the streets on Saturday evening to express solidarity with Khan

“Tomorrow [Saturday] evening at 7 pm, there will be a gathering in all of Pakistan to express solidarity with Imran Khan. The whole party and the nation stand with their captain,” Umar said.

Khan is also facing a terror charge for comments he made against a female judge last month during an impassioned speech in Islamabad.  

Local media reported on Friday that Khan had been issued a notice by Islamabad Police for failing to appear before the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) and provide his clarification on the matter. 

Ousted in a parliamentary vote in April 2022, Khan has accused his political opponents, who are now part of the coalition government, of conspiring with Washington to remove him from power.  

The government and US have both vehemently rejected Khan’s allegations. 

Khan has refused to recognize PM Sharif’s government and has vowed to protest with his supporters until the government announces the date for elections.