"Release Imran Khan, or else."

Pakistan's largest opposition party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has threatened country-wide demonstrations if former prime minister Imran Khan, currently jailed, isn't released at a large rally on September 8 on the outskirts of Islamabad.

This the first time the PTI was able to gather a large number of workers and supporters since Khan was arrested last year in August.

It is also the first time the opposition party has been able to hold a large successful gathering due to multiple legal and physical restrictions imposed by the government.

Clashes, blockades, and a permit violation

Twenty-nine shipping containers were set up on all the major roads of Islamabad by the city administration.

Despite these blockades, droves of workers from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Islamabad joined PTI’s demonstration in Sangjani, the last village falling within the capital city's jurisdiction.

Map indicating location of PTI rallyGoogle Maps

The Islamabad administration allowed the PTI to hold the demonstration with 42 conditions after litigation in court, among which was that the rally would end at 7PM.

However, the opposition party couldn't start past the deadline. The only point of entry in to the protest location was the M2 motorway.

Islamabad's district magistrate directed the police to take strict action against the PTI's organizers for violating the permit. As a result, police shelled workers, who lobbed stones in retaliation. Several party workers and police officers were injured in the clashes, including the senior superintendent of Safe City Islamabad.

Earlier in the morning, a suspicious bag was also found near the rally site in Sangjani. According to the Islamabad police, the bag contained a hand grenade, detonator, electric wires, and other explosive materials. The shipping containers were placed to maintain law and order, the police said.

The Islamabad administration also decided to take multiple actions against PTI leadership, including registering cases.

How PTI workers reached the rally site

PTI instructed its Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Kashmir and Islamabad chapters to mobilise party workers towards Sangjani. The largest contingent of activists arrived from the PTI-ruled province, led by Chief Minister KP Ali Ameen Gandapur.

Charged workers led by PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat, member of the National Assembly (MNA), removed multiple containers placed on one of Islamabad's main linking thoroughfares, Margalla Avenue.

Party workers raised the slogans "release Imran Khan" and "release Prisoner no. 804". Prisoner no. 804 is a reference to Khan's prison serial number, popularised by his supporters.

Khan's AI speech, a leader in hiding re-emerges, and a deadline

With Imran Khan in jail, the PTI telecast his AI-generated video at the gathering, welcoming women and the youth for coming in large numbers and for facing multiple legal challenges. "Until we strengthen the weak, no one will get independence," said the AI-generated recording.

Among the highlights of the show was the re-emergence of Hammad Azhar, PTI's Punjab president. Azhar is wanted by the police in multiple cases and has been in hiding. Another leader who is in hiding, former minister Murad Saeed, addressed the crowd via a recorded video message.

Other key leaders who spoke were MNA Sheikh Waqas Akram, son of jailed PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureishi, Zain Qureishi, and Sher Afzal Marwat. Opposition ally Mahmood Khan Achakzai also spoke at the rally, calling for Khan's release.

PTI activists calling for Imran Khan's release with a reference to his prison serial number, 804. Sept 8, 2024FAROOQ NAEEM/AFP

In his trademark aggressive fashion, CM KP Ali Ameen Gandapur demanded the immediate release of Imran Khan legally. "The government has two weeks," he said. "Otherwise I will lead and take the first bullet." Gandapur announced that the next demonstration would be held in Lahore, where ruling party Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) is in government.

Gandapur distanced the PTI from arrested former spy chief Lt. Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed. "We didn't get him as dowry, we didn't give him any postings," he said. "No one can try Imran Khan in a military court."

Lt. Gen (retd) Faiz Hameed was taken into military custody in August 2024 for abusing his power and raiding a private housing scheme. He led the Inter-Services Intelligence Agency (ISI) while Khan was prime minister, and was considered very close to him. Some journalists claim sources have told them that the former spy chief remained in contact with Khan and his party leaders, including while the former prime minister has been in jail.

Speaking to journalists during a hearing, Imran Khan has said that General Hameed's trial is being used to "intimidate me."

Meanwhile, back at the September 8 protest, PTI leader Ali Mohammad Khan rallied the crowd by taunting the Pakistani army: "Can you hear us Rawalpindi? Release him, release him!"