Supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held demonstrations across Pakistan on Wednesday to mark three years since former prime minister Imran Khan’s imprisonment, demanding his release and the withdrawal of legal cases against him. The protests formed part of a nationwide campaign organized by the party, with one of the largest gatherings taking place outside Lahore’s Aiwan-e-Adl.
The Lahore demonstration, organized by the Insaf Lawyers Forum, drew party leaders, lawyers, and supporters who gathered on Upper Mall carrying PTI flags and chanting slogans in support of the jailed party founder. Participants claimed that the cases against Imran Khan were politically motivated and intended to keep him out of the political arena. The government and state institutions have consistently rejected these allegations, maintaining that all legal proceedings are being conducted independently under the law.
Several senior PTI leaders, including Salman Akram Raja, Ali Aijaz Butta, Rehan Dar, and Shaukat Basra, addressed the gathering. They called for Imran Khan’s immediate release and vowed to continue the party’s campaign until all legal cases against him are resolved.
Similar protests were held in multiple cities across Pakistan, while overseas PTI supporters also organized solidarity demonstrations in different countries. The protests highlighted the party’s continued demand for fresh general elections and the release of its founding chairman.
Imran Khan has remained in prison since August 2023 following his conviction in a corruption case. Since then, he has faced several additional prosecutions, including cases related to corruption, official secrets, and marriage laws. Khan and PTI maintain that all charges are politically motivated, while the government insists the judicial process remains independent.
During the Lahore protest, PTI leader Shaukat Basra alleged that journalist Natiq Rehan was assaulted by Punjab Police while covering the demonstration. Police had not issued an official response to the allegation at the time of reporting.
Ahead of the protests, Amnesty International urged Pakistani authorities to safeguard Imran Khan’s fundamental rights as his detention entered its third year. The organization expressed concern over his reported prison conditions and called for respect for the right to peaceful assembly, while urging authorities to ensure access to family, legal counsel, and medical care for both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi.
The nationwide protests once again underscored the political divide surrounding the former prime minister’s imprisonment, with PTI continuing its campaign for his release while the government maintains that the legal process is proceeding according to the law.
