PTI announces Aug 5 rally, to challenge protest case dismissal

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf announced on Wednesday a public rally in Peshawar on August 5 to mark three years since former Prime Minister Imran Khan's arrest. The party also said it would challenge in the High Court the dismissal of its complaint against Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other officials over alleged protester deaths during the November 2024 demonstrations.

Why is PTI holding a rally on August 5?

August 5 marks three years since Imran Khan's arrest, and PTI is using the date to renew its campaign for his release. The decisions were taken at a meeting at the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar, attended by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali and Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, according to provincial Information Minister Shafi Jan.

Jan said the party would hold a major public gathering at the Imran Khan Cricket Stadium in Peshawar for the occasion. He alleged that Khan had been denied his fundamental rights, held in solitary confinement for the past seven months and prevented from meeting visitors. Jan said the rally would outline PTI's future political strategy and advance its campaign for Khan's release.

What is PTI challenging in the November 2024 protest case?

PTI said it would challenge a sessions court ruling that dismissed its private complaint against Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and other officials over the alleged use of excessive force against party supporters during the November 26, 2024, protests. The complaint, filed in December 2024, alleged that PTI supporters were killed during a march demanding Khan's release.

Barrister Gohar said the sessions court dismissed the complaint without hearing the petitioners, calling the decision unconstitutional. "So far, 14 hearings have taken place and we appeared before the court on each occasion. Today, however, our counsel was out of the country and we sought an adjournment, but the court instead dismissed the complaint," he said.

He said PTI wanted a full investigation into the incident and sought to have those responsible formally named in the case. He added that the party would challenge the sessions court's ruling in the High Court.