Crackdown intensifies as dozens of workers, including six Punjab MPAs, are arrested; party leaders denied access to jailed founder.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced it will not back down from its protest movement until former Prime Minister Imran Khan is released from prison. The declaration comes amid an escalating crackdown on the party’s ranks, with dozens of workers arrested, including six sitting MPAs from Punjab.
The arrests took place during a series of demonstrations held across major cities, including Lahore, Peshawar, and Rawalpindi. Security forces reportedly used tear gas and baton charges to disperse protesters, while key party figures were taken into custody.
PTI leaders condemned what they called “state-backed political repression”, accusing authorities of violating democratic norms and denying basic rights. “This is not just about Imran Khan—it’s about the people’s mandate being crushed,” said PTI spokesperson Rauf Hassan in a press briefing.
Adding to the tensions, senior party leaders attempting to visit Imran Khan at Adiala Jail were barred entry for the third consecutive week. “We are being denied access to our leader, even as his health and safety remain in question,” said Shibli Faraz.
The former premier has been in custody since 2023 on a variety of charges widely seen by PTI and international observers as politically motivated. Despite legal challenges, bail applications have been repeatedly dismissed or delayed.
PTI has announced a fresh wave of “people’s resistance rallies” in all provincial capitals over the coming weekend. The party leadership reiterated that protests will continue indefinitely until Imran Khan is released and political space is restored.
Observers say the country faces a deepening political divide, with growing unrest amid economic stress and institutional paralysis. Calls for dialogue remain unanswered as both sides dig in for a protracted confrontation.