Unrest within Pakistan as jailed PTI founder Imran Khan calls for nationwide protest
PTC Web Desk: Amid growing unrest within Pakistan, jailed former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has called for a countrywide protest movement, intensifying the internal crisis gripping the nation. This call for agitation comes as the Pakistan Army faces international embarrassment and domestic criticism in the aftermath of India’s bold Operation Sindoor.
Imran Khan, who has been jailed since August 2023, communicated the agitation strategy through his sister Aleema Khan. In a message quoted by The Express Tribune, Aleema stated, “Start preparing for a mass movement; this time, we are not heading to Islamabad alone — the movement will spread across Pakistan.”
Adding momentum to the announcement, PTI Senator Ali Zafar, after meeting Khan in prison on Monday, revealed on social media that the party was preparing for a massive, organised national campaign. “Some very important matters were discussed. Amongst them was a countrywide movement,” Zafar wrote on X.
Imran Khan: "No Surrender, No Compromise"
Aleema Khan reiterated her brother’s resolve, stating that Khan remains defiant despite continued incarceration and denial of basic rights. “Even if he spends his entire life in prison, he will not bow to pressure,” she said, citing Khan’s statement that “no matter the extent of torture, I will never accept subjugation.”
Khan has also signaled a hard stance within PTI, making it clear there is no room for "disloyal" members who "play on both sides of the wicket." Aleema also mentioned that Khan views the imprisonment of his wife, Bushra Bibi, as a tool to break his spirit — a tactic that, according to him, will not succeed. He reportedly said, “Even if I am kept in prison for life, I will not bow down.”
Why Imran Khan was jailed?
Khan was ousted from power in April 2022 following a no-confidence vote and was arrested in August 2023 in the Toshakhana corruption case, for which he received a three-year sentence and was disqualified from holding public office. Although the sentence was suspended on August 29, 2023, he was quickly re-arrested in the high-profile cipher case.
In January 2024, he was sentenced to 10 years for leaking state secrets. That conviction was overturned on June 3, but Khan remains imprisoned due to additional charges, including a 7-year sentence related to his marriage with Bushra Bibi. Despite PTI-backed candidates winning the majority in the February 2024 elections, the party was kept out of power as rival factions formed a coalition government.
- With inputs from agencies
