Pakistan: Imran Khan's party to ramp up pressure with fresh protests seeking release

Pakistan's largest opposition party is set to launch a new wave of protests today (August 5), marking two years since party founder Imran Khan’s imprisonment in a corruption case.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) says this latest movement — planned to unfold across the country — is not a one-day event but the beginning of a prolonged campaign to oust what it calls a “fake” and “imposed” government.

The party’s central and provincial leaderships have been mobilizing supporters throughout the week, encouraging them to hold peaceful but resolute demonstrations demanding Khan’s release and the restoration of democratic representation.

While PTI says the protest is just the beginning — “not a final call” — it’s clear the party sees this as a critical moment to reassert its political relevance amid growing restrictions and a heavy state crackdown.

In a statement issued ahead of the protest, senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser said all provincial chapters had been instructed to organize rallies, public awareness events, and other activities. “We have decided to involve all segments of society,” he said. “This is a long struggle, and we will not back down until this government is sent home.”

Qaiser also alleged a wave of arrests and intimidation of PTI workers and elected members in Punjab and Kashmir, with Section 144 reportedly being imposed in several districts to deter gatherings.

The party claims over 200 raids have been conducted in recent days, with many workers picked up and released only after allegedly signing affidavits. “We are collecting data to confirm the total number of arrests,” he said.

Show of strength in Lahore and Rawalpindi

The most visible protest activities are expected in Lahore and outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where Imran Khan is being held. PTI Punjab media cell head Shayan Bashir said a large turnout was expected in the provincial capital, where rallies from across the province will converge. “This will be a massive show of strength. Lahore will lead the way,” he said, adding that supporters had already arrived from surrounding districts.

In Islamabad, the local PTI chapter issued a call for workers to stage peaceful protests in their respective areas in coordination with Union Council-level leadership. A statement by the chapter urged protestors to remain disciplined and avoid confrontation with police, calling the campaign “a long struggle that demands patience, courage, and wisdom.”

Rallies across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The most extensive demonstrations are expected across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a PTI stronghold.

Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur will lead the central rally in Peshawar, starting from Hayatabad Toll Plaza and culminating at Qila Bala Hisar. Multiple MNAs and MPAs — including Shandana Gulzar, Qasim Ali Shah, Arbab Sher Ali, and Samiullah — will participate in rallies in different parts of the city.

Rallies are also scheduled in Mardan, Swabi, Malakand, and Charsadda, with leaders including Junaid Akbar and Atif Khan leading processions. In Mardan and Charsadda, convoys will join at Ambar Interchange before merging into the main rally in Peshawar.

Government response

The government, however, has dismissed the protest as a desperate attempt to destabilize the country. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari accused PTI of fanning “chaos and fascism” and claimed that the public would reject the call to protest.

“This is not a political movement — it is an attempt to weaken state institutions and disrupt national unity,” Bokhari said in a press conference in Lahore. She also criticized the timing of the protest, which coincides with Pakistan’s observance of Kashmir Solidarity Day. “While the nation stands with the Kashmiri people, PTI wants to promote an agenda of unrest,” she said.

Bokhari also mocked the PTI’s narrative of “Haqiqi Azadi (real freedom),” pointing out what she called the party’s contradictory stance on foreign relations. “The man who once begged for American support now claims to lead a movement for real freedom,” she said, referring to reports that Imran Khan’s sons may join the protests in Pakistan.

With leaders arrested, its core leadership scattered, and political space shrinking, the August 5 protests are being seen as a test of whether PTI can still mobilize its base on the streets.

For the government, it will test its ability to maintain order without drawing international criticism or further alienating public opinion.