LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders have said that they will go to court for its August 5 protest plans as the Lahore deputy commissioner has not responded to their request for permission to hold a peaceful gathering.

This was announced during a press conference of PTI leaders led by Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and PTI Lahore President Mian Akram Usman at the Lahore Press Club on Saturday.

The PTI leaders expressed solidarity with the people of Azad Kashmir, where they said more than 100 people were martyred. “These sacrifices will not go in vain”, the PTI secretary general said. The party leaders condemned the rising incidents of terrorism in Balochistan and recent casualties in District Tank and said that it was a moment of concern for the nation. They accused the state of failing its basic responsibility to protect citizens.

Mr Usman said the party had applied to the Lahore deputy commissioner for permission to hold a peaceful protest but no response had been received so far. “Against this silence, we will go to court and execute our Aug 5 plan,” he asserted.

Says Lahore DC did not respond to its request for permission to hold a peaceful protest

Alleging serious violations in the handling of the Nov 26 incident, Mr Raja said the world saw what happened and that the bodies of PTI martyrs were made to disappear. He claimed the medical reports and bodies of 14 martyrs were ready but relevant people were being threatened.

On economic issues, the PTI leaders criticised the government over wheat and fuel crises and claimed that some 4.5 million tonnes of wheat had gone missing from the country’s total 29 million tonnes. Mr Raja accused the government of “ambushing the public” by increasing petrol, diesel and kerosene prices under the cover of night, calling it a living example of extreme incompetence.

He said that party founder Imran Khan was being held in solitary confinement and denied access to lawyers despite facing 300 cases. “After the 26th Constitutional Amendment, expecting justice from the courts is tantamount to deceiving yourself,” he lamented.

Drawing comparisons with regional movements, he said that just as the youth of India and Bangladesh took to the streets for their rights, Pakistani youth had the same right and should not be underestimated.

“Public movement in the country’s streets on Aug 5 is a call from Imran Khan and his sisters,” he said, and hoped that the nation would come out.

Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2026