Thousands of Imran Khan’s supporters rally in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, demanding his release and protesting against the political establishment amid ongoing tensions.
The Pakistani capital, Islamabad, has been locked down as large numbers of supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan have been arriving from across the country to call for his release from prison.
In April 2022, Khan was removed from power through the country’s first-ever no-confidence vote, reportedly at the behest of the US due to his close ties with Russia. Since then, he has faced imprisonment on a series of evolving charges. Rejecting these as politically driven accusations, Khan has urged members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to gather in the capital.
“This is an extraordinary period, as these individuals long for a Pakistan where justice and the rule of law prevail, with the state prioritizing its citizens over elites. Imran Khan embodies this promise. Therefore, releasing him stands as their ultimate demand,” stated PTI in a Monday announcement.
The government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has charged Khan with orchestrating a “well-planned conspiracy” and pledged to detain any protester attempting to enter the capital. According to The Guardian, Islamabad’s “red zone,” which houses all parliamentary and government buildings, has been entirely barricaded off using shipping containers as barriers on Monday.
Authorities have closed roads in various regions of Pakistan and stationed tens of thousands of police officers and militia with the goal of stopping PTI convoys from entering the capital. Additionally, mobile internet access and messaging services like WhatsApp have been suspended in Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
According to PTI spokesman Shaikh Waqas Akram, over 70,000 people from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were marching towards Islamabad with plans to surround the capital on three sides.
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“The police in Punjab and other areas have used rubber bullets, expired shells, and stun grenades against us,” Akram informed reporters. “They are attempting to halt a peaceful protest demanding Khan’s release.” He noted that the PTI was prepared for this by bringing vehicles with fans designed to dissipate the gas.
“We will not conclude this march until Imran is with us,” declared Khan’s wife, Bishra Bibi, in a speech on Monday. She pledged to “remain there till my last breath.” Bibi was recently released from prison after the government’s case against her and Khan for allegedly violating Islamic law with their marriage was overturned on appeal.
Ahsan Iqbal, the secretary-general of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), alleged that Khan was attempting to bypass the courts by orchestrating street protests.
“He needs to resolve the cases filed against him; otherwise, the government cannot release him,” said Iqbal, who serves as the Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives in Sharif’s administration.
Khan faced a series of charges starting with anti-terrorism laws, followed by corruption accusations and claims of improperly accepting gifts from foreign countries. He was later charged for disclosing state secrets and violating Islamic law through his marriage. Each time an appeal overturned these sentences, new allegations surfaced. The latest accusation asserts that Khan incited violence among his supporters during a protest in September. Presently, he is detained at the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.
The PTI asserts that it secured the popular vote in the February election but alleges that Sharif and the military manipulated the results to remain in power. They call for Khan’s release, along with all other political detainees, and insist on conducting free and fair elections.
