Pakistan’s opposition party launches mobilization campaign to free jailed ex-PM Imran Khan

Pakistan’s main opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has launched a new political mobilization campaign in Punjab province in a bid to secure the release of its imprisoned leader and former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The mobilization campaign comes amid Khan's call for a nationwide protest movement to reach its peak on Aug. 5, marking exactly two years since his imprisonment.

Punjab is Pakistan’s most populous and politically influential province. The campaign marks a renewed effort by the PTI to reassert its presence amid a broader crackdown on the party since Khan’s ouster from power in 2022 and his subsequent arrest.

Party leaders depart for Lahore

A senior PTI delegation led by party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and the chief minister of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Ali Amin Gandapur, departed for Punjab's provincial capital, Lahore.

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The delegation is expected to meet local party leaders and activists to outline the next phase of their political movement.

Speaking before departure, Gandapur said the PTI had already formed coordination committees that would continue to issue directions as the campaign unfolded.

Avoiding rallies amid government scrutiny

Party chairman Barrister Gohar said the Punjab government had been notified that the PTI would not organize rallies or mass gatherings in Lahore due to heightened tensions.

Instead, a parliamentary meeting would be held to address the recent suspension of 26 provincial lawmakers affiliated with the party and to strategize for upcoming Senate elections.

“The meeting will also finalize the roadmap for the next phase of the movement,” Gohar said.

Imran Khan’s arrest and wider crackdown

Imran Khan, a former cricket star who served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 until his removal in a no-confidence vote in 2022, has been jailed since 2023 on multiple charges. His arrest triggered nationwide protests and further strained the country’s already fragile democracy.

Meena Khan Afridi, a provincial minister aligned with the PTI, said the current mobilization campaign was launched under Khan’s direction and would gain momentum in the coming weeks, culminating in a campaign for his release.

Senior PTI figure Atif Khan said the political situation in Punjab was increasingly repressive, likening it to “martial law” conditions.

He said party leaders faced growing harassment from authorities and emphasized the importance of the Lahore meeting for mobilizing the province.

“The truth is, this movement now needs to be intensified,” Atif Khan said.