The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday established a “hunger strike” camp outside Parliament House in Islamabad to demand release of party founder Imran Khan and women prisoners, and the restoration of their “true” mandate in the general elections.
Since the Supreme Court granted the PTI reserved seats for women and minorities in Parliament on a plea filed by the Sunni Ittehad Council, the former ruling party has come under increasing pressure, with leaders alleging police have detained several of its workers. A day earlier, Islamabad Police sealed its Central Secretariat in the federal capital and arrested Information Secretary Raoof Hasan, allegedly for running a digital media cell involved in spreading anti-Pakistan propaganda.
Earlier this month, Khan threatened to go on hunger strike over “abuses” in prison. Taking his lead, party leaders told journalists that they would be observe a “hunger strike” for a few hours daily to protest against “injustice” and demand the release of Khan. The first day saw a “hunger strike” of 4 hours, from 3 to 7 p.m., with Chairman Gohar Ali Khan maintaining that a rotating group of PTI lawmakers would participate in it in the coming days.
Gohar further said that he had met National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq alongside Leader of the Opposition Omar Ayub and protested “illegal and unconstitutional actions.” He said the camp would continue until the government released the PTI founder.
Another PTI leader, Asad Qaiser, echoed Gohar’s demands and accused the incumbent government for the resurgence of terrorism. He demanded the government resign and make way for fresh elections free of any interference.
Opposition leader Ayub, who is also the PTI’s secretary-general, said the token hunger strike’s primary agenda was securing the release of all detained party workers and leaders. He also slammed the sealing of the party secretariat and demanded the resignation of the incumbent government and fresh elections.
Senator Shibli Faraz, meanwhile, announced that the PTI would stage a nationwide protest this Friday, July 26, to voice its criticism over “illegal” actions of the government.