PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leaders and workers on Friday rallied in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the release of incarcerated founding chairman Imran Khan.

The workers chanted slogans in favour of their party’s founder and against the federal government.

The party activists were also holding portraits of Imran Khan and placards inscribed with different slogans.

In Peshawar, a rally was held in Hashtnagri Bazaar, which was led by minister for higher education department Meena Khan Afridi, MNA Shandana Gulzar, MPA Fazal Ilahi and PTI leader Irfaz Saleem.

Addressing the rally, MNA Shandana Gulzar said that the party leaders and workers poured onto the roads ‘for the sake of Pakistan’.

Ask govt to set free all jailed leaders ‘for country’s progress’

“Our struggle for the real independence will continue till liberating Pakistan from foreign masters,” she said, adding Imran Khan was their leader and will remain their leader forever. She said that under the banner of PTI, they would ‘get independence’ at any cost.

MPA Fazal Ilahi said that neither their founding chairman Imran Khan nor other PTI leaders and workers would bow before anyone.

He said that the leadership and workers were ready for the big protest in Islamabad, and were waiting for the call of the party leadership. “We are ready for all kind of sacrifice for the release of Imran Khan,” he said.

In Lower Dir, scores of PTI workers led by special assistant to chief minister on population welfare, MPA Malik Liaqat Khan staged a rally in Kumbar Bazaar to demand release of Imran Khan.

The protesters were chanting slogans against federal government for not releasing their leader.

Speaking on the occasion, MPA Malik Liaqat insisted that the May 9, 2023 incident was a ‘false operation’. He said that cases registered against several PTI leaders and workers were baseless and unconstitutional.

The PTI lawmaker said all the jailed leaders and workers should be freed if the government was sincere to make progress and development. He also demanded probe into the killing of worker, Sheikh Inamullah, who was shot dead by unknown attackers in Barghando area of Maidan several days ago. The lawmaker said the people of Maidan were peace-loving and wanted durable peace in the area.

In Shangla, PTI activists blocked the Karora-Ajmeer Road in Shahpur Bazaar to demand release of party’s founder Imran Khan, who is incarcerated in Adiala Jail, Rawalpindi, in various cases.

PTI leaders, including former provincial minister Shaukat Yousafzai, Alpuri tehsil council chairman Waqar Ahmad Khan, provincial deputy general secretary Nawaz Mehmood Khan, Ziaulhaq, Liaqat Ali Yousafzai and others, addressed the rally.

The rally started from Kuz Bazaar as protesters passed through different streets and gathered at the main Shahpur chowk, carrying flags, banners and shouting slogans for the release of Imran Khan.

Published in Dawn, June 22nd, 2024