Peshawar: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), rallying under the broader opposition umbrella of Tehreek Tahaffuz Ain-e-Pakistan (TTAP), is all set to launch a countrywide protest movement starting tomorrow.
The move is aimed at denouncing what the alliance terms as the “unlawful” incarceration of PTI founder Imran Khan.
The date, August 5, holds symbolic value for PTI supporters, it marks two years since Imran Khan was taken into custody in Lahore over corruption allegations.
TTAP has declared the day a “Black Day” and plans peaceful demonstrations across the country.
At an emergency press briefing held in Swabi on Sunday, TTAP Secretary General Asad Qaiser announced that protests will be held under three banners: the national flag, PTI’s emblem, and a white flag symbolizing peace.
Qaiser, a former National Assembly Speaker, said the movement is designed to remain strictly peaceful and lawful.
“We are not stepping outside the Constitution. If there is any genuine case against Imran Khan, it should be heard openly and judged on merit,” he stated.
Shahram Khan Tarakai, another PTI leader present at the briefing, confirmed that the protest will span all provinces, with elected representatives actively participating.
He emphasized that this isn’t a short-lived reaction but a long-term democratic struggle, according to The Express Tribune.
“Our movement stands for upholding the Constitution, defending human rights, and preserving judicial independence. Our protestors will remain peaceful, as they always have,” Tarakai added.
He urged citizens to raise their voices in defense of their freedoms, stating that silence only encourages further violations.
Asad Qaiser also demanded full transparency in judicial proceedings related to all pending cases involving Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and other senior PTI leaders.
He called for the judiciary to conduct hearings openly, with full media access, and deliver verdicts based on facts, not influence. Qaiser also stressed the need for a judicial inquiry into the events of May 9, insisting that those responsible must be held accountable under the law.
