Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party held a rally in Islamabad, demonstrating its strength following the disputed February elections. Thousands of supporters demanded the release of Khan, who has been in jail for over a year on what his party calls politically motivated charges. Khan’s aide spoke at the rally, vowing to continue protesting until Khan is released.
The rally saw supporters from across the country marching towards Islamabad, despite roadblocks set up by authorities. PTI accused the government of harassing workers to suppress attendance at the rally. Videos showed clashes between protesters and police, with tear gas being used to disperse the crowd.
Khan, a former cricket star, was ousted through a no-trust vote in April 2022 and has been in jail since August 2023 facing trial for allegedly inciting violence. His supporters went on a rampage in May 2023, attacking military installations. Despite facing multiple accusations, Khan denies all allegations, with many of his convictions being overturned.
In a controversial move, the government announced plans to ban PTI, accusing the party of inciting violence and leaking classified information. The attempt to ban PTI was condemned by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and a UN panel of rights experts, who found Khan’s detention to be without legal basis and aimed at disqualifying him from running for office. The rally in Islamabad marks a significant moment for PTI as they continue to amplify their call for Khan’s release and push back against the government’s actions.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com
