Pakistan’s Imran Khan postpones nationwide protests, cites global tensions

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently jailed, has delayed his planned nationwide protests for two weeks, citing global instability caused by the escalating Israel-Iran conflict.

Last week, Israel launched widescale strikes against Iran, targeting its nuclear facilities, ballistic missile factories, and military commanders. Iran, in retaliation, fired missiles at Israel.

Khan's sisters, Naureen Khan and Dr. Uzma Khan, told reporters Tuesday outside Adiala Jail that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader acknowledged the international situation despite being incarcerated, and emphasized unity in Pakistan.

“Everyone knows Khan’s stance on Israel,” they added.

Barrister Ali Zafar, a PTI senator, had earlier said on May 31 that Khan planned to lead a protest movement from jail, after stating his party had been “completely pushed to the wall.”

“He told us he will lead the protest as chairman from jail, and all decisions will be directed by him,” Zafar said.

On June 3, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that Imran Khan had changed the protest strategy and assigned National Assembly’s Opposition Leader Omar Ayub to lead demonstrations, instead of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

“Ali Amin has been asked to focus on governance in his province. This time, we will not march to Islamabad, but stage protests across the country,” Gohar said. No date was announced for the demonstrations.

Khan’s sisters also quoted him criticizing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's federal budget, calling it elitist and burdensome for the public.

“Imran Khan said that poverty will rise after this budget, and 4.3 million people have already left Pakistan,” they added.

Khan also reportedly said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s budget would be passed after internal consultation.