MANSEHRA: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf provincial president and MNA Junaid Akbar Khan has said that his party’s struggle to secure the release of former prime minister Imran Khan will ultimately reach its logical conclusion.

“Our struggle for Imran Khan’s release is well under way, and the entire party stands united for this cause,” he said while speaking at a meeting held in Lower Kohistan district on Sunday.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, PTI’s provincial general secretary Ali Asghar Khan, Hazara division president and chief minister’s adviser on revenue Nazir Abbasi also attended the gathering.

During the event, Ahsanullah, a brother of Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl MPA from Lower Kohistan, Sajjadullah, along with his supporters announced joining PTI.

Junaid Akbar said that Imran Khan’s popularity was increasing with each passing day, as the people wanted to see him released with dignity and honour.

“The federal government arrested Imran on fabricated corruption and other charges, but none of them have been proven in a court of law,” he said.

He further claimed that PTI had emerged as the single largest political party in the February 8, 2024, general elections, but its mandate was stolen by parties that had already been rejected by the people.

“Our protests and sit-ins across the country will continue until the PTI founding chairman is set free and all fabricated cases against him are dropped,” he added.

The PTI provincial president said that his party’s government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had launched welfare schemes that significantly improved people’s lives.

“Our workers, even during difficult times, have always responded overwhelmingly whenever called upon to take to the streets for Imran Khan’s release,” he said.

He also dismissed the ‘negative’ propaganda against PTI and its leader.

“Our workers and the people at large do not pay heed to the false narratives being spread against Imran Khan and PTI,” he asserted.

Speaking on the occasion, Ahsanullah, who announced his decision to join PTI, said that the people of Kohistan and the rest of the country were great admirers of Imran Khan.

“The principled politics of Imran Khan and his unwavering commitment compelled me and my supporters to join PTI, and I am proud of this decision,” he said.

Published in Dawn, February 24th, 2025