PTI to plan strategy for August 5 protest

Meeting to decide whether to stage march on Islamabad or record protest at provincial level

PESHAWAR:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has convened a consultative meeting in Peshawar on Thursday to craft a strategy on making the upcoming August 5 protest for the release of the party's founder a success.

According to PTI sources, the meeting has been called by the PTI central leadership that will be attended by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Junaid Akbar, Omar Ayub and other leaders. The meeting will consider all aspects of the upcoming protest in detail.

According to sources, the meeting will decide whether to stage a march on Islamabad or hold protests at the provincial level. The PTI leadership will also discuss other possible protest options.

The PTI sources said several party leaders are not in favour of marching on Islamabad. Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub told the media that protest plans would be finalized soon, with all decisions to be made in the meeting scheduled for July 31.

The party leaders themselves will announce the mode of protest. It has not been decided yet whether the protest will be held in Islamabad or at the district level.

It is worth noting that after a series of failed protests, the PTI founder has once again decided to demonstrate street power to campaign for the rule of law and the release of imprisoned party leaders and workers. However, the party appears divided on key policy matters, with dissenting voices increasingly surfacing in public.

Given the situation, a statement of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan appeared in the media, ordering every member of his party to immediately set aside all internal differences and focus solely on the party's August 5 protest movement, "for which no meaningful momentum is being built at present".

According to sources, the party's central leadership has issued fresh instructions to all provincial leaders and organizational units to ensure a strong turnout for the protest on August 5. It has been decided that every ticket-holder will lead a protest demonstration in their respective constituency and hold a rally.

Talking to the media, PTI founder's sister Aleema Khanum expressed confidence on Saturday that the public will take to the streets on August 5 to launch a mass movement.

Aleema claimed that court orders were being flouted with impunity and that the justice system, as well as the judges, had been rendered toothless.

"This is precisely why the PTI founder has asked workers, leaders and supporters to begin a movement," she said.

She claimed those in power were fearful of the movement, adding that Imran Khan had urged the public to stand up for their rights.

"There is selective justice for PTI workers, they are being punished," Aleema said. "There is clearly someone who is afraid, and my lawyers have advised me to seek pre-arrest bail."

She said, "The party must finalise a plan, and the people must take to the streets on their own."