The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has called for a significant wave of demonstrations scheduled for Tuesday in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The party is protesting against what it describes as illegal restrictions preventing access to its founding chairman and former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Adiala Jail.
Why PTI is Mobilising Supporters
PTI leaders have declared that the decision to protest stems from being consistently denied permission to meet Imran Khan. This has prompted the party to organise simultaneous demonstrations outside two key locations: Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi and the Islamabad High Court (IHC). According to reports, this plan was finalised even as authorities imposed fresh bans on public assemblies.
Senior PTI figure Asad Qaiser explained the rationale behind the move. He stated that lawmakers from both parliamentary houses would initiate their protest outside the IHC before proceeding towards the jail. "It has been decided to hold protests because IHC has failed to implement its order and the Adiala jail administration is not willing to implement the court orders," Qaiser told Dawn.
He added that while he would address a public gathering in Quetta on Tuesday, other senior leaders, including advocate Gohar Ali Khan, would lead the demonstrations in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Authorities Impose Sweeping Ban on Gatherings
The planned PTI protests are set to unfold under a stringent prohibition on public gatherings enforced by both local and federal authorities. The Rawalpindi district administration issued a three-day ban starting Monday, while Islamabad's administration imposed a more extensive two-month prohibition effective from 18 November.
The PTI has strongly criticised these measures, labelling them as a blatant attempt to suppress political opposition. The party argues that the bans aim to prevent supporters from highlighting what they see as a gross violation of Imran Khan's fundamental rights.
Allegations of Rights Violations and Health Rumours
Central to the PTI's grievance is the claim that Imran Khan's family members and senior party leaders have been barred from meeting him for several weeks. The party asserts this constitutes a serious breach of both human rights and judicial directives.
Asad Qaiser further claimed that a parliamentary committee has demanded Khan's release, accusing the administration of "committing a human rights violation by stopping the former prime minister from meeting his family members." In a related show of support last week, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi staged a sit-in outside Adiala Jail after reportedly being denied a meeting with Khan for the eighth time.
Amid persistent and widespread rumours concerning the former prime minister's well-being, both the Pakistani government and PTI leaders have issued statements asserting that Imran Khan is in stable health.
