The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s parliamentary party on Wednesday announced it will launch a nationwide movement from Aug. 5 with an ultimate aim of securing the release of party founder Imran Khan, vowing the upcoming demonstrations will be “different” from previous efforts.
Coinciding with the third anniversary of Khan’s arrest, the latest decision followed a meeting of the parliamentary party at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad. Addressing a press conference after the meeting, PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan said participants had discussed the health of the incarcerated former prime minister and his wife, Bushra.
Gohar said the Aug. 5 anniversary would be marked by rallies nationwide and would launch a new movement. PTI Secretary Secretary Salman Akram Raja, meanwhile, said the movement would include public meetings, demonstrations, and an eventual long march.
In his press conference, Gohar lamented that Imran Khan has not received justice from courts, adding the oppression and injustice must come to an end. “Every PTI member of the assembly believes the [PTI] founder’s imprisonment is unjust,” he said, adding the PTI political committee and the opposition alliance would jointly announce their future course of action.
Gohar and the PTI’s announcement follows demands from Khan’s sister, Aleema, to intensify efforts for her brother’s release. In an address to party workers in Lower Dir last week, she called for unity and full participation in “anti-government” demonstrations nationwide.
Also on Wednesday, the PTI also rejected media reports claiming the party had decided to return to parliamentary standing committees it resigned from on directions of Imran Khan.