Thousands of people gathered in Islamabad, demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has been in jail for over a year on what his party claims are politically motivated charges.
Khan’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), organized the rally on Sunday, marking its first major show of strength since the disputed national and regional elections in February. Images and videos shared on social media showed Khan’s supporters marching towards the capital from various parts of the country.
“We will not rest until Khan is released from jail,” declared Hammad Azhar, a close aide of Khan, during the opening speech at the rally. He emphasized that only Khan could save Pakistan from corrupt and incompetent politicians, echoing the sentiments of PTI leader and lawyer Salman Akram Raja.
Authorities in Islamabad blocked key entry points to the city with shipping containers and deployed riot police to prevent unrest. Despite this, social media videos showed PTI activists clearing the blocked paths by pushing away containers.
PTI also accused the authorities of harassing workers to discourage attendance at the rally. Local TV footage showed protestors throwing rocks at riot police, who responded with tear gas to disperse the crowds.
This was the first time PTI had been allowed by a court to hold a rally near Islamabad since Khan’s arrest. However, authorities made it difficult for attendees to reach the venue by blocking roads.
In response, Islamabad police accused the protesters of injuring officers by throwing stones, including a senior official.
Imran Khan has been jailed since August 2023, facing charges of inciting violence on May 9. Complicating matters further is the arrest and court martial of a former spy chief believed to have been close to Khan during his time as prime minister.
Khan has denied all charges against him, and many of his convictions have been suspended or overturned. In July, the government announced plans to ban Khan’s PTI party, accusing it of inciting violent protests and leaking classified information.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan criticized the move to ban PTI, calling it a blow to democratic norms, while a United Nations panel of rights experts found that Khan’s detention had no legal basis and seemed aimed at disqualifying him from running for political office.
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