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• Demos held across Peshawar, Lahore
• Islamabad protest held despite Section 144
• Karachi show remains lacklustre as Red Zone sealed
• Three participants arrested during demonstration in Punjab capital
PESHAWAR / ISLAMABAD / LAHORE / KARACHI: The PTI-led opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) on Friday launched a nationwide protest campaign with demonstrations in nearly all major cities, though the party failed to stage any significant show of strength in Karachi amid tight security.
In Peshawar, PTI MNA Shandana Gulzar Khan told a press conference that the movement’s primary agenda was to secure the release of former prime minister Imran Khan, and stop the “bloodshed of innocent people” in the tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
“There is unrest, inflation and insecurity across the country,” she said, adding that the province was being denied its due share of gas, electricity and other resources by the federal government. Ms Gulzar also criticised the federal and Punjab governments, accusing them of economic mismanagement and political victimisation of PTI workers and leaders.
During the press conference, senior lawyer Muazzam Butt said a constitutional petition would be filed in the Peshawar High Court seeking security for Mr Khan in jail, with the interior ministry to be named as a respondent.
Mr Butt said petitions would also be filed against the continuation in office of the chief election commissioner after the completion of his tenure.
In Islamabad, the PTI’s local chapter held a small protest on Lehtrar Road near Taramri Chowk, despite the imposition of Section 144 and strict security arrangements in the federal capital.
A few dozen party leaders and workers attended the protest, which was organised under the direction of PTI Islamabad Regional President Aamir Mughal and led by Regional General Secretary Malik Aamir Ali.
Talking to Dawn, Mr Mughal said the party was aware that police and other law enforcement agencies had made strict arrangements to prevent protests in the federal capital.
“During the protest, we demanded that Imran Khan be released, inflation be controlled, petroleum prices be reduced and the rule of law be restored in Pakistan,” he said.
Mr Mughal warned that if the government did not address these issues, PTI would be left with no option but to launch a massive campaign and agitation after Eid.
In Lahore, the TTAP Punjab chapter staged a protest demonstration outside the Lahore Press Club in solidarity with Mr Khan and other political prisoners, demanding their immediate and unconditional release.
The protest was attended by political and social activists, including PTI leaders Shayan Bashir Nawaz and Mian Akram Usman, and Haqooq-i-Khalq Party leaders Ammar Ali Jan and Haider Butt.
Participants condemned what they described as increasing political repression in Punjab, citing heavy police deployment at the protest venue and alleged midnight raids on the homes of political activists a day earlier.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Jan criticised the alleged harassment and intimidation of political workers in Punjab.
Police arrested three participants during the protest. TTAP Punjab condemned the arrests and demanded the immediate release of all detained activists.
In Karachi, however, PTI failed to hold any significant protest after law enforcement agencies placed containers at all entry and exit points of the Red Zone around the Karachi Press Club, the venue announced by the party for its protest.
The containers were placed soon after Friday prayers, effectively sealing the area.
Although the administration succeeded in thwarting PTI’s protest plan, as no party workers or rallies managed to reach the venue or even get close to it, the arrangements caused severe traffic disruption across the South district.
The containers were removed hours later.
PTI Karachi spokesperson Fauzia Siddiqui admitted that the party could not stage the protest, citing both tight security and “organisational issues”.
Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2026
