PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf central secretary information Sheikh Waqas Akram on Wednesday said that the party would hold peaceful protests on February 8.

“There is no question of withdrawing the protest call,” he told a news conference at Peshawar Press Club.

The PTI leader said the party’s media cell would organise regular press conferences in every province each week to keep the public informed about any developments regarding political activities in the country.

Mr Akram condemned the “baton charge and violence” by Punjab police against the sisters of former prime minister Imran Khan and unarmed PTI workers.

Condemns Punjab police action against workers, Imran’s sisters

He alleged that Imran Khan was being kept in isolation in jail in violation of international laws and said it was deeply unfortunate that even doctors were not being allowed for his medical examination.

The PTI leader claimed that his party’s chief was being denied meetings with his lawyers despite court orders, accusing the government of disregarding the Constitution and the law.

He alleged that PTI leaders were moving around with court orders but authorities continued to refuse meetings with Imran.

Mr Akram alleged that Imran’s sister Aleema Khan and other women were being pushed and harassed, vehicles of visitors were vandalised, and Punjab police’s personnel were allegedly emptying the pockets of PTI workers.

He said women and children were being arrested merely for visiting Adiala Jail to express solidarity with the former prime minister.

The PTI leader demanded that the federal and Punjab governments apologise immediately to Imran and his family, and party workers.

He also held the Sindh government responsible for deaths in a fire incident at Karachi’s Gul Plaza, saying the incident exposed the Pakistan Peoples Party’s 18-year bad governance in the province.

Mr Akram announced that the PTI would stage protests across Sindh on Friday against the Gul Plaza fire incident.

He said some individuals were misrepresenting PTI statements but were ignoring their own conscience.

The PTI leader said KP was unfairly being linked with terrorism, despite the fact that it had suffered the most and made the greatest sacrifices in the fight against militancy. He added that every child of the province had played a role against terrorism.

Mr Akram accused certain federal ministers of issuing statements against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi merely to secure their positions.

On the occasion, PTI leader Shaukat Ali Yousafzai said whenever the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz came to power at the centre, entry points to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were closed and even movement of wheat flour was restricted.

He criticised the prime minister’s foreign visits, saying claims of major economic gains were not reflected on the ground.

Mr Yousafzai cited a recent IMF report, claiming it had identified Rs5.3 trillion worth of corruption.

He said that the PTI would hold a peaceful protest on February 8 under all circumstances.

The PTI leader alleged that federal ministers had been assigned the task of regularly issuing statements against the people and government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Criticising the government’s foreign policy, he said Pakistan was seeking US support while maintaining religious and friendly ties with neighbouring Iran, questioning where Pakistan would stand if Iran were attacked. He demanded “clarity in foreign policy”.

Mr Yousafzai said claims of daily profits at the stock exchange did not reflect the reality of rising inflation, adding that the public was being crushed under the burden of price hikes. He said the government had failed on all fronts and demanded the release of Imran Khan followed by free and fair elections.

He criticised electricity pricing, alleging that Independent Power Producers were being paid regularly even without generating power.

The PTI leader said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was being deprived of major federal funded development projects because the PTI was in power in the province.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2026