Been 3 years: PTI to stage protests on Aug 5

Voices concern over Kashmir, seeks inquiry into AJK violence, fresh polls

KARACHI:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh on Wednesday announced that the party would observe August 5 as a "Black Day" and hold peaceful protests across the country to mark three years since the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.

Speaking at a press conference at Insaf House, Sheikh said the main protest in Karachi would be held outside the Karachi Press Club, while demonstrations would take place in all districts and tehsils of Sindh. He said PTI's month-long public outreach campaign during July had reaffirmed the party's unity under Imran Khan's leadership and urged supporters to participate in the protests.

Sheikh also expressed concern over the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), alleging that recent elections did not reflect the will of the people due to low voter turnout. Condemning reported firing on participants of a public march, he demanded an independent judicial inquiry, punishment for those responsible, the resignation of the AJK government, and fresh, free and fair elections. He also called for dialogue to resolve the Kashmir dispute.

Responding to recent remarks by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sheikh condemned what he described as the politics of intimidation and said PTI workers would not be deterred by threats.

On Karachi's civic issues, he blamed the Sindh government for poor governance, citing the recent drowning of a child in the Lyari River and the city's deteriorating drainage system. He alleged that despite billions of rupees allocated for municipal services, storm-water drains remained clogged, increasing the risk of urban flooding.