PTI and allies plan nationwide rallies demanding Imran’s release, constitutional protection
Senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser addresses the press conference flanked by Salman Akram Raja and Mehmood Achakzai on Saturday. SCREENGRAB
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its allies on Saturday announced a series of rallies aimed at what they described as the protection of the Constitution and the release of party founder Imran Khan, as political tensions continue to simmer across the country.
The announcement came during a joint press conference in Lahore, where leaders from the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Ain Pakistan (TTAP) and allied groups appeared alongside senior PTI figures. Among those present were TTAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, senior leader Asad Qaiser, lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa, Umar Dar, and Haqooq-e-Khalq Party leader Ammar Jan.
Achakzai delivered a sharply worded critique of the current political system, alleging institutional decline and raising concerns about electoral processes. He also questioned the removal of PTI’s election symbol, calling it unprecedented. In a separate remark, he referred to past incidents involving security forces and civilians, warning that history shows adverse outcomes when force is used against the public.
دنیا میں کہیں نہیں دیکھا کہ کسی جماعت کا انتخابی نشان ملک کی سب سے بڑی عدالت چھین لے۔ یہ بھی نہیں دیکھا کہ دنیا کے کسی بڑے خطرناک مجرم یا قاتل کی ملاقاتیں کبھی بند ہوئی ہوں۔ عمران خان کو کوئی مانے یا نہ مانے، دنیا مانتی ہے کہ وہ اس ملک کا سب سے مقبول لیڈر ہے۔ کروڑوں عوام اسے فالو… pic.twitter.com/X9vYTKMxl5
PTI leaders reiterated their central demand: the release of Imran, who remains in custody.
Raja said the party’s identity and Pakistan’s political landscape were inseparable from Imran, dismissing suggestions that the former premier could be sidelined. He urged workers, farmers and broader segments of society to support what he described as a democratic struggle, adding that public movements have historically proven difficult to suppress.
میں ایک بات واضح کر دوں کہ پی ٹی آئی عمران خان کے بغیر کچھ بھی نہیں ہے۔ اگر کسی کے ذہن میں ایسا کچھ ہے تو وہ نکال دے۔
پنجاب میں کسانوں کے ساتھ جو ظلم ہو رہا ہے اور مزدوروں کا جو استحصال ہو رہا ہے، ہم نے فیصلہ کیا ہے کہ ہم تمام کسان تنظیموں اور مزدوروں سے رابطہ کریں گے، ان کے… pic.twitter.com/GQ5lr7gU3NQaiser echoed that stance, stressing that PTI’s political direction was tied to its founding leader. He also shifted focus to economic concerns, highlighting rising inflation and the challenges faced by labourers and farmers. He said the party would engage with worker and farmer groups to address their grievances, while also opposing recent increases in energy and fuel prices.
Several speakers called on the judiciary and legal community to uphold the rule of law. Khosa, in his remarks, criticised recent constitutional amendments and raised concerns about their implications for judicial independence and ongoing legal proceedings involving Khan.
Two individuals, once in good health, are now facing retinal complications while incarcerated.
Health Decline in Incarceration
These individuals are denied visitors and the right to legal counsel.
Their medical records remain confidential.
Despite solitary confinement never… pic.twitter.com/d6vDhdIhkRIn a statement issued separately, PTI marked what it said were 1,000 days of Imran’s detention, describing it as unlawful and politically motivated — an allegation the government has consistently denied.
The party claimed that restrictions on access to family members and legal counsel, as well as reported health concerns, constituted violations of fundamental rights. It renewed its demand for the immediate release of Imran and other political detainees.
The party also commented on a recent report by Reporters Without Borders, expressing concern over what it called growing pressure on media freedom in Pakistan. It alleged increased censorship and harassment of journalists, urging authorities to ensure protection for media workers and uphold freedom of expression.
For now, there has been no immediate response from government officials to the latest statements. Authorities have previously maintained that legal actions against PTI leaders, including Imran, are conducted in accordance with the law.
The planned rallies come at a time of heightened political polarisation, with opposition parties intensifying criticism of the government while grappling with legal and organisational challenges.