Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters rallied across the country on Monday, defying restrictions on public gatherings in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to demand the release of their imprisoned leader, Imran Khan. The protests mark two years since the former prime minister’s incarceration, with PTI claiming police detained over 300 activists in Lahore during preemptive raids. Khan, in a message via the party’s X account, urged followers to continue peaceful demonstrations until “true democracy is restored.”
The 2018-elected PM was removed via a no-confidence vote in 2022 and arrested in May 2023, sparking violent nationwide protests. Authorities responded with a sweeping crackdown, prosecuting PTI members over the May 9 riots, which targeted military installations. Hundreds of party leaders, including lawmakers, were convicted last month in connection with those protests. Khan, who denies all charges, claims the cases against him—ranging from corruption to official secrets violations—are politically motivated.
So far, courts have delivered mixed verdicts, convicting Khan in a corruption case in January while acquitting him or issuing suspended sentences in others. The government maintains that legal proceedings are fair, but PTI alleges judicial bias and military interference. With tensions rising, today’s protests test whether Khan’s support base remains mobilized despite state pressure.
Analysts warn that continued confrontations could deepen Pakistan’s political instability ahead of potential elections. While PTI vows to escalate its campaign, security forces remain on high alert to prevent unrest. As both sides dig in, the standoff threatens to prolong the crisis that has gripped the country since Khan’s ouster. Will the government engage in dialogue, or will further crackdowns follow? The coming days may prove decisive.