PTI stage countrywide protests against Imran Khan’s ‘detention, inflation’

• Protests held in Islamabad, Peshawar and Lahore amid Section 144 restrictions

• Demonstrators demand release and medical care for Imran Khan

• Leaders cite rising inflation, fuel price hikes and deteriorating law and order

• Opposition warns of intensified nationwide agitation if demands remain unmet

 ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday staged protests in multiple cities across the country, including the federal capital, amid the imposition of Section 144 and heightened police restrictions, the party claimed.

A day earlier, the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) and PTI had jointly announced a nationwide protest call for Friday against former prime minister Imran Khan’s imprisonment, rising inflation and other issues.

Islamabad protest at Lehtrar Road

In the federal capital, the protest was held on Lehtrar Road near Taramri Chowk under the direction of PTI Islamabad President Aamir Mughal and was led by General Secretary Malik Aamir Ali.

PTI Islamabad Senior Vice President Raja Sajjad Dhanyal, Women’s Wing President Maimoona Kamal, Youth Wing President Murad Bukhari, Insaf Students Federation representatives and other party leaders and workers participated in the demonstration.

Protesters demanded the release and proper medical treatment of the PTI founder and raised concerns over rising inflation, deteriorating law and order, and the recent increase in petroleum product prices.

Speaking to the media on the occasion, PTI leaders said they were aware that Islamabad Police and other law enforcement agencies had made strict arrangements to prevent public gatherings in the capital.

“Section 144 was already in place in the federal capital, but we knew we had to hold the protest as it was in support of founding chairman Imran Khan and against inflation, which is severely affecting the public,” they said.

They added that their demands included Imran Khan’s release, control of inflation, reduction in petroleum prices and strengthening of the rule of law in the country.

Aamir Mughal warned that if the government failed to address these issues, PTI would be compelled to launch a larger protest movement after Eid.

 PTI protest outside Peshawar Press Club

Separately, PTI supporters also staged a protest outside the Peshawar Press Club. Speaking on the occasion, PTI leader Shandana Gulzar said the movement’s primary objective was the release of Imran Khan and an end to what she termed the “killing of innocent people” in the tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

She alleged that civilians in the province were being targeted in drone strikes and bomb blasts, claiming that women and children were also among the victims.

“There is unrest, inflation and insecurity across the country,” she said, adding that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was being deprived of its due share of gas, electricity and other resources by the federal government.

Gulzar also criticised the federal and Punjab governments, accusing them of economic mismanagement and political victimisation of PTI workers and leaders.

She further said rising inflation had severely affected household budgets, making it difficult for families to afford education and basic living expenses.

TTAP Punjab protest outside Lahore Press Club

In Lahore, the Punjab chapter of Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) staged a protest outside the Lahore Press Club in solidarity with the former prime minister and other political prisoners, demanding their immediate and unconditional release.

PTI workers and activists of the Haqooq-e-Khalq Movement also participated in the demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club in support of their demands.

The protest was attended by political and social activists, including PTI leader Shayan Bashir Nawaz, Mian Akram Usman, and leaders of the Haqooq-i-Khalq Party such as Ammar Ali Jan and Haider Butt.

Participants condemned what they described as increasing political repression in Punjab, citing heavy police deployment at the protest site and alleged overnight raids on the homes of political activists a day earlier.