Protesters demand Imran’s release

PESHAWAR:

Like the rest of the country, residents of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) also staged peaceful but massive protests in various districts for the release of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan.

In Kohat, rallies were held at Kacheri Chowk for the release of Imran Khan and hundreds of other imprisoned party workers with leaders and participants demanding that ‘false’ cases against them be abolished.

K-P Law and Finance Minister Aftab Alam Afridi Advocate, Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) Shafi Jan and Dawood Afridi, Tehsil Gumbat Chairman Sajid Iqbal, Tehsil Lachi Chairman Ehsan Khan, former Kohat District Nazim Naseem Afridi, PTI District Leader Salman Shinwari, local office-bearers of the party and a large number of party workers as well as the general public participated in the protest.

Workers reached Kacheri Chowk in the form of huge rallies under the leadership of the Law Minister, Shafi Jan and Dawood Afridi where they turned into a large, peaceful protest.

Demonstrators were carrying huge pictures of Imran Khan and chanting slogans of ‘Shame on you, release Imran Khan’. The provincial law minister, assembly members and other leaders, in their respective speeches, thanked the ‘brave and zealous people’ of the district who, despite all difficulties and hardships, had stood firm with Imran Khan in every difficult hour and raised their voice for Khan sahib and all other ‘innocent’ prisoners through peaceful protests.

They said Imran Khan and other ‘innocent’ PTI workers and leaders should be released immediately.

The minister said on the occasion that Imran Khan was not fighting for personal gain but for the survival and freedom of the younger generation which the ‘oppressive’ forces controlling the country’s resources did not want.

The speakers further said that, if Imran Khan were to deviate from his position, he would be out of jail today, and that Imran Khan was being punished for raising his voice for the rights of the people, real freedom and the development and prosperity of the country.