PTI stages nationwide protests to mark three years of Imran Khan’s imprisonment

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters on Wednesday staged demonstrations across the country to mark three years since former prime minister Imran Khan’s detention, with one of the largest protests held outside Lahore’s Aiwan-e-Adl, where members of the Insaf Lawyers Forum (ILF) led a rally demanding his release.

Lawyers, party leaders and supporters gathered on Upper Mall outside the Lahore Aiwan-e-Adil, chanting slogans in Imran’s favour and calling for the withdrawal of what they described as politically motivated cases against the former prime minister.

Among those leading the protest were PTI senior leaders Salman Akram Raja, Ali Aijaz Butta, Rehan Dar and Shaukat Basra, who addressed demonstrators and called for Imran’s immediate release. Protesters repeatedly chanted, “Release Imran Khan,” while asserting that demonstrations were being held peacefully across the country against what they termed his “illegal imprisonment”.

Addressing the gathering, PTI leaders demanded the withdrawal of all cases against Imran and said the party would continue its campaign until he was released.

The Lahore protest formed part of PTI’s nationwide programme marking the third anniversary of Imran’s imprisonment. In a statement issued ahead of the demonstrations, the party announced protests across Pakistan as well as parallel events organised by overseas supporters in several countries.

Imran has remained in prison since August 2023 after his conviction in a corruption case and has since faced multiple convictions and prosecutions in other cases, including allegations relating to corruption, disclosure of official secrets and marriage laws. He and his party reject all allegations, maintaining that the cases are politically motivated and intended to keep him out of politics.

READ: Amnesty calls on govt to release Imran ahead of third full year of detention

The government has consistently rejected those claims, insisting that judicial proceedings against Imran are independent and conducted in accordance with the law.

Wednesday’s demonstrations are the latest in a series of PTI protests since his arrest. The party has repeatedly mobilised supporters demanding his release and fresh elections, while authorities have imposed restrictions on several previous rallies, some of which ended in clashes and violence.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Shaukat Basra said that journalist Natiq Rehan was assaulted by the Punjab Police while covering the Lahore protest. He claimed the journalist had been targeted while performing his professional duties.

There was no immediate response from the Punjab Police.

A day before the protests, Amnesty International called on Pakistani authorities to restore what it described as Imran’s rights as his detention entered its third year.

In a statement, Isabelle Lassee, Amnesty International’s Acting Regional Director for South Asia, said Imran had been denied a fair trial, subjected to prolonged solitary confinement and faced restrictions on family visits, legal counsel and medical care. The organisation also urged authorities to facilitate peaceful protests and avoid what it described as arbitrary crackdowns on demonstrators.

Amnesty further called for Imran and his wife, Bushra Bibi, to be granted regular access to their families, lawyers and adequate medical treatment.