TTAP announces nationwide protests on Friday over inflation and fuel prices

The opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) on Tuesday announced nationwide protests on Friday against rising inflation, higher fuel prices, alleged lawlessness and the continued detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.

According to a post shared on X by the Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the decision was taken during a leadership summit of the alliance. TTAP said the demonstrations would also demand immediate transfer of Imran Khan to hospital and release of political prisoners.

Speaking separately outside the NA on Tuesday, senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser said the party and the wider public were deeply concerned about the health of former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. He said the parliamentary party had unanimously endorsed decisions made at the previous day’s TTAP leadership summit.

Qaiser also said nationwide protests will be held on Friday against inflation, rising oil prices and concerns over Imran and Bushra Bibi’s health. The demonstrations would also demand their transfer to the hospital, release of political prisoners and restoration of basic rights, he reiterated.

“If Imran Khan’s cases are dealt with on grounds, he would not remain in jail for a moment,” he said, adding that terrorism had increased due to government policies and relations with Afghanistan had been affected.

He also demanded immediate transfer of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to hospital in accordance with prison rules, permission for meetings, withdrawal of oil tax, an end to electricity and gas cut-off and lifting of restrictions on transportation of wheat and flour.

Qaiser further warned that if opposition members were not allowed to function freely in parliament, they would not allow assembly proceedings to continue smoothly. He criticized the government’s economic policies, adding that the upcoming budget would be “anti-poor” because of expected new taxes.

Read more: Imran Khan is ‘losing sight’ in one eye due to prison torture, claims Salman Akram Raja

In February, it was revealed in a report prepared by Barrister Salman Safdar on the direction of the Supreme Court that Imran had informed officials that his right eye was functioning at only 15% capacity. Safdar submitted the report to a two-member bench.

As a result, the SC ordered that Imran be given access to his personal doctors in Adiala jail. Later, a medical board that examined Imran reported an improvement in his vision and recommended against moving him to a hospital.

At the end of January, Imran was first taken to the hospital for a minor eye procedure. Five days later, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said doctors at PIMS had examined his eyes and, after obtaining his written consent, performed a minor medical procedure lasting about 20 minutes.

Amid controversy surrounding the eye treatment, PIMS confirmed that Imran received an anti-VEGF intravitreal injection to treat right central retinal vein occlusion.

In March, another medical check-up was carried out at Adiala, after which PIMS stated that Imran had shown significant improvement in his vision after his second dose of an intravitreal anti-VEGF injection. The third dose was subsequently given on 23 March.

Read also: KP unites against wheat, gas edges

Imran’s wife, Bushra Bibi, also underwent a medical examination in Adiala in March after complaining of pain in her right eye. She was allegedly examined by Dr. Muhammad Arif Khan, Head of Ophthalmology Department at PIMS.

The medical report stated that she had experienced blurred vision and black spots in her right eye; she also reported seeing flashes in the dark and said she suffered from headaches. The examination diagnosed Bushra Bibi with posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in her right eye.

The report also identified myopia and astigmatism. After the diagnosis, Bushra Bibi was prescribed eye drops and medication along with the use of glasses. She was reportedly recommended a follow-up medical check-up after four weeks.

The former first lady then underwent eye surgery on the evening of April 16.

Imran and Bushra Bibi remain incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. They were sentenced on 20 December 2025 to 17 years in prison in the Toshakhana-II case, which relates to allegations that the couple illegally kept a Bulgari jewelery set gifted by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit to Saudi Arabia.

Imran has been in custody since August 2023, serving a sentence in a £190m corruption case. He also faces pending charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act in connection with the May 9, 2023 protests.