Supporters of Imran Khan march towards the Pakistani capital
Protesters from across Pakistan have gathered in Islamabad to call for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is currently imprisoned. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Islamabad is currently experiencing a lockdown as a significant number of demonstrators from across Pakistan gather to demand the release of ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Khan was removed from office in April 2022 through the country's first-ever no-confidence vote, allegedly at the request of the US due to his favorable stance towards Russia. Since then, he has faced a series of shifting charges, which he denounces as politically motivated. In response, Khan has urged his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party members to rally in the capital.
“These are not ordinary times. These people have been yearning for a Pakistan where justice and the rule of law is supreme, and the state serves the people, not the elites. This is exactly what Imran Khan promises. Hence, Imran Khan, being their only hope, must be released, and this is their final demand,” stated the PTI in a recent announcement.
Current visuals from Islamabad depict thousands marching peacefully toward the capital with calls for justice and improved governance.
In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration has claimed a “well-thought out conspiracy” by Khan and has vowed to detain any protesters attempting to enter the capital. The “red zone” of Islamabad, which contains essential parliamentary and government structures, has been "completely sealed off" with shipping container barricades.
Authorities have restricted access throughout various regions of Pakistan, deploying tens of thousands of police and militia to deter PTI supporters from reaching Islamabad. Additionally, mobile internet and messaging applications like WhatsApp have been blocked in Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
According to PTI spokesperson Shaikh Waqas Akram, over 70,000 individuals from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are on their way to Islamabad, aiming to surround the capital from three sides.
“The police in Punjab and other places have fired rubber bullets, expired shells and stun grenades at us. They are trying to stop a peaceful protest for the release of Khan,” Akram informed the media. He mentioned that the PTI was well-prepared and had brought vehicles equipped with fans to manage the tear gas.
Khan's wife, Bishra Bibi, emphasized their determination during a speech, stating, “Until Imran is with us, we will not end this march,” vowing to remain present “till my last breath.” Bibi was released from prison recently after the government's case against her and Khan regarding their marriage allegedly violating Islamic law collapsed on appeal.
Ahsan Iqbal, secretary-general of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, accused Khan of seeking to bypass the judicial process through street protests. “He will have to clear himself from the cases registered against him. Without this, the government cannot release him,” commented Iqbal, who also serves as Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives.
Khan has faced various charges, starting with anti-terrorism laws, followed by corruption allegations, improperly receiving gifts, revealing state secrets, and violations of Islamic law related to his marriage. New charges emerge whenever the previous ones are overturned on appeal. The latest accusations allege that Khan incited violence at a protest in September, and he is currently being held at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.
The PTI asserts it won the popular vote in the February elections but claims that Sharif and the military manipulated the results to maintain their grip on power. They are demanding the release of Khan and all political prisoners, alongside calls for free and fair elections.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
Khan was removed from office in April 2022 through the country's first-ever no-confidence vote, allegedly at the request of the US due to his favorable stance towards Russia. Since then, he has faced a series of shifting charges, which he denounces as politically motivated. In response, Khan has urged his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party members to rally in the capital.
“These are not ordinary times. These people have been yearning for a Pakistan where justice and the rule of law is supreme, and the state serves the people, not the elites. This is exactly what Imran Khan promises. Hence, Imran Khan, being their only hope, must be released, and this is their final demand,” stated the PTI in a recent announcement.
Current visuals from Islamabad depict thousands marching peacefully toward the capital with calls for justice and improved governance.
In response, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration has claimed a “well-thought out conspiracy” by Khan and has vowed to detain any protesters attempting to enter the capital. The “red zone” of Islamabad, which contains essential parliamentary and government structures, has been "completely sealed off" with shipping container barricades.
Authorities have restricted access throughout various regions of Pakistan, deploying tens of thousands of police and militia to deter PTI supporters from reaching Islamabad. Additionally, mobile internet and messaging applications like WhatsApp have been blocked in Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.
According to PTI spokesperson Shaikh Waqas Akram, over 70,000 individuals from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are on their way to Islamabad, aiming to surround the capital from three sides.
“The police in Punjab and other places have fired rubber bullets, expired shells and stun grenades at us. They are trying to stop a peaceful protest for the release of Khan,” Akram informed the media. He mentioned that the PTI was well-prepared and had brought vehicles equipped with fans to manage the tear gas.
Khan's wife, Bishra Bibi, emphasized their determination during a speech, stating, “Until Imran is with us, we will not end this march,” vowing to remain present “till my last breath.” Bibi was released from prison recently after the government's case against her and Khan regarding their marriage allegedly violating Islamic law collapsed on appeal.
Ahsan Iqbal, secretary-general of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, accused Khan of seeking to bypass the judicial process through street protests. “He will have to clear himself from the cases registered against him. Without this, the government cannot release him,” commented Iqbal, who also serves as Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives.
Khan has faced various charges, starting with anti-terrorism laws, followed by corruption allegations, improperly receiving gifts, revealing state secrets, and violations of Islamic law related to his marriage. New charges emerge whenever the previous ones are overturned on appeal. The latest accusations allege that Khan incited violence at a protest in September, and he is currently being held at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi.
The PTI asserts it won the popular vote in the February elections but claims that Sharif and the military manipulated the results to maintain their grip on power. They are demanding the release of Khan and all political prisoners, alongside calls for free and fair elections.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
