RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday announced a nationwide shutter-down and wheel-jam strike on February 8, with party leadership planning full-scale protests across the country to press for its demands.
Speaking to the media at Dahgal Naka in Rawalpindi, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar said the street movement is a constitutional right and is being carried out strictly under the guidance of PTI founder Imran Khan. He emphasized that the party leadership remains united on the protest strategy.
Read More: PTI begins countrywide protests
Addressing speculation about negotiations, Barrister Gohar rejected the idea of talks being limited to a so-called meeting of “five key figures,” stating that such meetings were neither possible nor necessary. He said PTI leaders visit Imran Khan every Tuesday but are often denied meetings, despite court directives, adding that even routine discussions have been turned into controversies.
8 فروری کو پورا پاکستان بند ہوگا!!
پاکستان کے وسیع تر مفاد کے لیے عمران خان کی رہائی لازمی ہے!! pic.twitter.com/y06QoSRSaT— ZEShan ⚫ (@zeshmohmand) January 4, 2026
The PTI chairman also highlighted internal party discipline, stressing that no committee can override the founder’s instructions. He said the Speaker has deferred a decision on opposition leaders’ notifications until the next parliamentary session, but PTI seeks a resolution before then.
On outreach efforts, Barrister Gohar expressed hope that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) would permit PTI to hold a public gathering in Sindh and supported providing protocol to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister during official visits.
Read More: Countrywide protests erupt; shutter-down strike today
Concluding, he stated that those genuinely working to improve the political situation should be appreciated, while denying lawful rights will only deepen the ongoing crisis.