Islamabad, Pakistan – The much-anticipated public rally by the PTI party on Sunday called for the immediate release of their incarcerated leader, Imran Khan. The party warned that if their demands are not met within two weeks, its peaceful struggle could turn into violence. The rally, held on the outskirts of the capital, was attended with enthusiasm despite the hurdles imposed by the authorities.
PTI Call for Action: In his address to the supporters gathered, the KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur told the authorities in very categorical words that “if Imran Khan was not released within two weeks, we will go to get him released”. Further, he threatened that if needed, the party would push its ‘verbal struggle’ to a more forceful one. He also threatened that cases would be filed against opponents within the province if Khan did not come out of the prison.
He said that in all cases against him, Imran Khan received favorable rulings, and as a result, he should be released immediately. He challenged the military establishment also, stating that even they would not be able to create obstacles in his way to seek freedom for Khan.
Shireen Waraich, the Vice President of PTI Central Punjab, also addressed the rally and demanded the immediate release of the party’s leader, Imran Khan. She pointed to the incarceration of Khan as a way to dent the will of the people that has been standing strong against any abolishment of loyalty to him. She praised the resilience of PTI supporters who came together in unprecedented numbers despite every hurdle to show their resolve with Khan’s leadership. Waraich also warned that if the government continued to negate releasing Khan, there was a probability of further unrest as the people’s patience was getting thinner. She said the PTI stance was that they would not tolerate Khan’s military trial and vowed to continue fighting for justice and true democracy in Pakistan.Challenges in Organizing the Rally: The PTI rally faced immense logistical difficulties as the local administration blocked key routes into Islamabad using containers to stop supporters from reaching the venue. Despite such obstacles, the turnout grew steadily during the day with thousands signaling strong public backing for the PTI’s demand for the release of Khan.
Defiance against military trial: Gandapur was specifically responding to recent comments from Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, who said recently that Imran Khan might be tried under military law on grounds of his involvement in the May 9 mayhem. “Even your father, or those you consider your father, cannot stop us from getting Imran Khan released,” Gandapur shot back, asserting that PTI would not allow Khan to be tried under military law.
PTI’s Stand on the May 9 Incident: The chief minister also hinted at disclosing more information on the May 9 incident, used as a pretext to target Khan and promised that more would be shared in the party’s next rally in Lahore. The incident was an excuse to suppress the PTI leader, he claimed.
Response of Opposition: On the contrary, the government termed the PTI public gathering as a “failed show.” Information Minister Atta Tarar accused PTI of exaggerating the turnout and using fabricated videos and social media posts to overstate the scale of the rally. He once again said, “PTI cannot escape accountability, as Imran Khan has to face trial for the crime of corruption.”.
While tensions continue to increase between PTI supporters and the government, the party leadership has remained steadfast in their demand for the release of Imran Khan. Chances are that the next few weeks will decide the course of the movement forward, as PTI has warned against turning from peaceful protest to more vigorous actions if their leader remains incarcerated.