Incarcerated Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan will personally lead the party’s upcoming protest movement from behind bars, party leader Ali Zafar announced on Saturday.
Speaking with media after meeting Khan at Adiala Jail, where Khan has been incarcerated for nearly two years, Zafar said the former prime minister had directed the party leadership to ensure the upcoming protest movement was “decisive.” Quoting Khan, he said the PTI founder had said he would lead the protest from jail.
To a question, he said he had been assigned the responsibility to devise a plan for the protest movement. He said he would consult with lawyers and the party leadership and submit a plan to Khan during his next meeting with the PTI founder. He said the strategy would be finalized this week and then responsibilities assigned to ensure its success.
“We are not receiving any relief from the judiciary or the executives,” the senator quoted Khan as saying, adding the party had no choice but to take to the streets once more to secure relief.
In a posting from Khan’s official X account, whose operator remains unclear while the party leader is incarcerated, the former prime minister reiterated his allegations of the May 9, 2023 riots being part of a “conspiracy” against his party. He alleged Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir was against his wife, Bushra, because she had not intervened on the military official’s behalf when Khan “removed” him as the DG ISI during his time as prime minister.
He also urged the party to practice unity within its ranks, maintaining in-fighting only served to harm their cause. “We must stay focused on resisting the fascist forces and ending this long reign of tyranny,” he said, emphasizing that no member of the PTI should shy away from “sacrifice.” He warned that any inactive members of the party would be “dismissed” and reiterated his call for all party members and the general public to prepare for a nationwide protest movement.