PTI, allies plan nationwide rallies demanding Khan’s release, constitutional protection

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its allies on Saturday announced a series of rallies aimed at what they described as the protection of the constitution and the release of party founder Imran Khan, as political tensions continue to simmer across the country.

The announcement came during a joint press conference in Lahore where leaders of Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Ain Pakistan (TTAP) and allied groups appeared along with senior PTI figures. Among those present were TTAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, PTI general secretary Salman Akram Raja, senior leader Asad Qaiser, lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa, Umar Dar and Haqooq-e-Khalq party leader Ammar Jan.

Achakzai delivered a sharply worded critique of the current political system, alleging institutional decline and raising concerns about electoral processes. He also questioned the removal of PTI’s election symbol, calling it unprecedented. In a separate remark, he referred to past incidents involving security forces and civilians and warned that history shows negative results when force is used against the public.

PTI leaders reiterated their central demand: the release of Imran, who remains in custody.

Raja said the party’s identity and Pakistan’s political landscape were inseparable from Imran, rejecting suggestions that the former premier could be sidelined. He called on workers, farmers and wider sections of society to support what he described as a democratic struggle, adding that public movements have historically proved difficult to suppress.

Qaiser echoed this stance, stressing that PTI’s political direction was linked to its founding leader. He also shifted focus to economic concerns, highlighting rising inflation and the challenges faced by workers and farmers. He said the party would engage with labor and farmer groups to address their grievances while opposing recent increases in energy and fuel prices.

Several speakers called on the judiciary and the legal community to uphold the rule of law. Khosa, in his remarks, criticized the recent constitutional amendments and raised concerns about their implications for the independence of the judiciary and ongoing trials involving Khan.

In a separate statement, the PTI marked what it said was 1,000 days since Imran’s detention, describing it as illegal and politically motivated – a claim the government has consistently denied.

The party argued that restrictions on access to family members and legal advice, as well as reported health problems, constituted violations of fundamental rights. It renewed its demand for the immediate release of Imran and other political prisoners.

The party also commented on a recent report by Reporters Without Borders that expressed concern over what it called growing pressure on media freedom in Pakistan. It alleged increased censorship and harassment of journalists, and called on the authorities to ensure the protection of media workers and uphold freedom of expression.

So far, there has been no immediate reaction from officials to the latest statements. Authorities have previously maintained that trials of PTI leaders, including Imran, are being conducted in accordance with the law.

The planned rallies come at a time of heightened political polarization, with opposition parties intensifying criticism of the government while grappling with legal and organizational challenges.