Imran Khan's party holds rally in Islamabad; demand his immediate release

Islamabad: Jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Movement for Justice staged a show of force on Sunday, demanding his “immediate release” while criticising the government for its crackdown on the party, as police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.

The rally – which has been postponed twice in the last two months – was held near the Sangjani cattle market in a suburb of Islamabad after the capital city administration issued a no-objection certificate (NOC).

Thousands of Khan's supporters attended the rally, proving that the party's power base was intact despite several hurdles, including the imprisonment of its 71-year-old founder.

Khan was arrested on August 5 last year after being convicted by the Election Commission of Pakistan in the corruption case against Toshakhana. Since then, he has been in jail on various charges. On Sunday, Khan completed 400 days in jail.

According to the NOC, the rally was scheduled to end at 7 pm (local time). As soon as the deadline expired, the district administration directed the police to take action against the protesters for not adhering to the NOC.

Authorities said organizers violated rules and regulations by failing to end the gathering on time.

In response to the crackdown, PTI workers started pelting stones at policemen, injuring many security personnel, including Chief Superintendent of Police Shoaib Khan.

“Turnout at the PTI rally was high despite government tactics of limiting numbers through roadblocks and containers, and despite the risk of violent crackdowns and arrests. Its size and popularity ensure that its mobilizing power will remain intact despite relentless attempts to contain it,” said Micheal Kugleman, a South Asia expert, in a post on X.

Several PTI leaders addressed the assembly and demanded Khan's immediate release. PTI Chairman in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan said the party would not meet until Khan was released.

“We are soldiers of Imran Khan and will not stand idly by until he is released,” he said, adding that Khan would soon be with his supporters.

He condemned the physical hurdles on the streets that restrict the movement of the participants and also announced that the PTI would now hold rallies across the country.

It was the PTI's first major rally in Islamabad since the February 8 elections. The party is seeking to put pressure on the government to release Khan, who is languishing in prison even though the courts have either acquitted him or released him on bail in all the cases in which he was convicted.

Khan has repeatedly expressed his willingness to talk to the establishment but refused to work with the government. So far, all his tactics have had no effect. Mass protests are an option, but his party is under pressure to avoid them.

Today's rally was a test for both the government and the PTI as it will help them assess Khan's growing influence and refine their policies and tactics in the coming days.

Sources told PTI that the Islamabad government imposed high security alert this morning and closed several roads into the capital. Hospitals have been put on high alert by the government. Metro bus services have been suspended in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Speaking at the rally, former minister Hammad Azhar said the obstacles created by the rulers showed that they were afraid of Khan and his followers.

He pointed out that most of the party's leaders in Punjab are in jail and paid his respects to the imprisoned leaders like Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Umar Sarfraz Cheema.

Another leader, Sher Afzal Marwat, said they would soon hold rallies in Punjab for Khan's release and for the supremacy of law and constitution.

“We will enter Punjab with 50,000 people from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within a week,” he said, adding that they would even march on foot and face tear gas.

Additional forces were dispatched to the scene where the clashes between police and party workers had originally occurred.

Meanwhile, just hours before the planned rally, President Asif Ali Zardari signed the Public Order and Peaceful Assembly Bill, 2024, which introduces strict measures against unauthorized assemblies.

The new law provides for penalties for holding unlicensed gatherings in Islamabad. Violators can be punished with up to three years in prison and fines. Repeat offenders can be punished with up to ten years in prison.