PTI protests: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday announced a nationwide shutdown and large-scale street protests demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, a day after he and his wife Bushra Bibi were sentenced to 17 years in prison each in the Toshakhana-2 corruption case.
According to reports, the party has issued mobilisation directives across provinces, calling for coordinated demonstrations and road blockades. PTI leaders have described the agitation as a decisive constitutional movement aimed at securing Khan’s freedom.
Imran Khan has been lodged in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail since August 2023 in connection with multiple legal cases. His prolonged detention and latest conviction have further intensified political tensions across Pakistan.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister and senior PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur told party workers that the protest plan was being carried out on direct instructions from Imran Khan. “We have clear directions. Enough is enough—now is the time to come out on the streets,” he said, adding that preparations were underway for a full-fledged street movement.
Gandapur warned that if the party’s demands were ignored, PTI supporters would block roads nationwide. “We are ready for a movement for justice. Every road and street of Pakistan will be jammed,” he said, claiming that party workers were eager for mass mobilisation.
Another PTI leader, Sohail Afridi, said the party was preparing for prolonged protests and would continue agitation until what he called “decisive political results” were achieved. Workers, he added, have been asked to remain active on the streets as part of a sustained strategy.
Intelligence sources reportedly believe that Khan’s sentencing has energised PTI supporters across the country, leading to plans for demonstrations in multiple major cities. The party leadership aims to build public pressure for what it describes as accountability within institutions.
The shutdown announcement comes at a time of growing political uncertainty in Pakistan. Authorities are reportedly preparing for potential disruptions to transportation and daily life if the PTI call is widely followed. As of now, there has been no official response from the federal government or security agencies regarding the planned protests.