PTI's post-Eid protest push stumbles in Punjab

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) planned post-Eid protest campaign has faced setbacks in Punjab, as the party struggled to mobilise significant numbers for its demonstrations in the province.

The party's efforts to ramp up street agitation following the Eid holidays have not gained the expected momentum in Punjab, which remains a critical political battleground for PTI.

TTAP seeks access to Imran Khan

Meanwhile, the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Aeen Pakistan (TTAP) has sought access to PTI founder Imran Khan, demanding that his family members and personal doctors be allowed to visit him. The demand highlights ongoing concerns about the conditions of Khan's detention and the restrictions placed on access to the incarcerated former prime minister.

PTI has been attempting to maintain pressure on the government through protests and public demonstrations since Khan's arrest. The party has repeatedly called on its supporters to take to the streets in a bid to secure Khan's release and challenge what it describes as politically motivated legal proceedings against its leadership.

However, the post-Eid push in Punjab — a province where PTI has historically enjoyed strong support — appears to have fallen short of the party's expectations. The muted response in Punjab represents a challenge for PTI's broader protest strategy, as the province is home to the largest share of the country's population and has been central to the party's political fortunes.

The party's difficulty in sustaining large-scale protests in Punjab comes amid a wider political environment in which authorities have taken measures to curtail PTI's organisational activities. The government has previously imposed restrictions on public gatherings and taken legal action against PTI leaders and workers in connection with earlier protest movements.

The demand by TTAP for family and medical access to Imran Khan underscores the continued focus of PTI and its allied groups on the former prime minister's welfare during his incarceration. The issue of Khan's access to personal physicians and family visits has been a recurring point of contention between his legal team and the authorities overseeing his detention.