MANSEHRA: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Hazara chapter will launch a street movement for the release of party founder Imran Khan by staging a rally here today (Wednesday).

“Our rally in Mansehra will kick off demonstrations across Hazara for the release of former prime minister Imran Khan,” PTI provincial deputy president Kamal Saleem Swati told reporters here.

He said the decision about the street movement was made during a meeting in Abbottabad earlier this week, with PTI president in Hazara division MNA Ali Khan Jadoon in the chair.

The meeting, attended by lawmakers from Hazara division, decided to begin the protest movement to pressure the government to release Imran.

Mr Swati said the PTI founder had been put behind bars though he didn’t commit any crime.

He said rallies followed by a workers’ convention would be held in Mansehra on Thursday.

The PTI leader said similar rallies and conventions would also be organised in Abbottabad and Battagram districts on April 11.

“We will also present certificates of appreciation to our leaders and workers, who were arrested on November 26 across the Hazara division,” he said.

Mr Swati said the release of Imran was the sole agenda of the PTI’s street movement.

“Our leader has been arrested on trumped-up charges, but we are confident he will be released soon,” he said.

The PTI leader said the party was united under the leadership of Imran and would continue the peaceful struggle for his release.

“We expect large public turnouts at our rallies and conventions, as people are against Khan’s arrest,” he said.

Published in Dawn, April 9th, 2025