Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former prime minister, has announced a series of protests in support of the judiciary, set to begin on October 2 in Mianwali, Faisalabad, and Bahawalpur.
In a statement from Adiala Jail, Khan addressed his supporters, stating that there will be a protest at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore on October 5 and another gathering at D-Chowk in Islamabad on October 4.
He warned of efforts to “crush PTI” through what he described as the “London Plan,” claiming his arrest is part of a larger strategy. “They want to break me in jail, but I am not afraid, and neither should the people be,” he asserted.
Khan emphasized that PTI’s protests would be peaceful, remarking, “We have always protested peacefully, but this system has failed to protect us.” He also expressed concern for women within the party, noting, “Our women are languishing in jails. An 80-year-old woman was charged, yet no one cared.”
He voiced support for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, who is leading a march towards Islamabad, praising him for “awakening the province’s people” and affirming that a revolution is imminent. “Ali Amin was right; revolution will come, and our message has reached the public,” Khan stated.
Khan reiterated PTI’s commitment to defending the judiciary and continuing their “struggle for freedom.” He also mentioned his wife, Bushra Bibi, who has been imprisoned for several months, accusing the government of trying to weaken him through arrests.
In related news, the federal government plans to file sedition charges against PTI leaders due to speeches made at a rally in Sangjani, Islamabad, on September 8. Sources indicate that the law ministry will invoke Section 196 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which allows for sedition charges without arrest warrants. Both the federal prosecutor general and the law ministry have approved these charges, and the matter is now awaiting cabinet approval before formal charges are filed against PTI leadership.
