The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its allies on Saturday announced a series of rallies aimed at what they described as the protection of the Constitution and the release of party founder Imran Khan, as political tensions continue to simmer across the country.
The announcement came during a joint press conference in Lahore, where leaders from the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz Ain Pakistan (TTAP) and allied groups appeared alongside senior PTI figures. Among those present were TTAP chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, senior leader Asad Qaiser, lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa, Umar Dar, and Haqooq-e-Khalq Party leader Ammar Jan.
Achakzai delivered a sharply worded critique of the current political system, alleging institutional decline and raising concerns about electoral processes. He also questioned the removal of PTI’s election symbol, calling it unprecedented. In a separate remark, he referred to past incidents involving security forces and civilians, warning that history shows adverse outcomes when force is used against the public.
PTI leaders reiterated their central demand: the release of Imran, who remains in custody.
Raja said the party’s identity and Pakistan’s political landscape were inseparable from Imran, dismissing suggestions that the former premier could be sidelined. He urged workers, farmers and broader segments of society to support what he described as a democratic struggle, adding that public movements have historically proven difficult to suppress.
Qaiser echoed that stance, stressing that PTI’s political direction was tied to its founding leader. He also shifted focus to economic concerns, highlighting rising inflation and the challenges faced by labourers and farmers. He said the party would engage with worker and farmer groups to address their grievances, while also opposing recent increases in energy and fuel prices.
Several speakers called on the judiciary and legal community to uphold the rule of law. Khosa, in his remarks, criticised recent constitutional amendments and raised concerns about their implications for judicial independence and ongoing legal proceedings involving Khan.
In a statement issued separately, PTI marked what it said were 1,000 days of Imran’s detention, describing it as unlawful and politically motivated – an allegation the government has consistently denied.
The party claimed that restrictions on access to family members and legal counsel, as well as reported health concerns, constituted violations of fundamental rights. It renewed its demand for the immediate release of Imran and other political detainees.