Barrister Gohar says party and opposition alliance will jointly announce future strategy
By Shabbir Hussain
ISLAMABAD, July 15 (Alliance News): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday announced that it will hold nationwide rallies on August 5 to mark the anniversary of the arrest of its founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, while reiterating its demand for his release.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the PTI parliamentary party, after which party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan addressed a press conference and outlined the party’s future political strategy.
“Our meeting had one agenda, but the entire national situation came under discussion,” Barrister Gohar said.
He announced that PTI would organise rallies across the country on August 5, marking three years since Imran Khan was arrested in 2023 following his conviction in the Toshakhana case, in which he was sentenced to three years in prison over the sale of state gifts.
Barrister Gohar said the parliamentary party unanimously condemned the continued imprisonment of Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi.
“Every PTI member of the assembly believes the founder’s imprisonment is unjust,” he said, adding that the party had sought legal remedies but decisions on several appeals were still pending before the courts.
He said the PTI political committee and the opposition alliance would jointly announce the next phase of the party’s political movement.
Referring to the planned demonstrations, Barrister Gohar said the August 5 protests would be of a “different nature,” although he did not provide further details.
Imran Khan has remained in custody since August 2023 after being convicted in multiple cases that the PTI maintains are politically motivated. Following his removal from office through a parliamentary vote of no confidence in April 2022, the former prime minister has faced numerous legal proceedings, including corruption, terrorism and other criminal cases.
While several convictions have since been suspended or overturned by higher courts, appeals in a number of cases remain pending. Khan has consistently denied all allegations against him.
The announcement comes days after Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, urged party workers to intensify efforts for his release.
Speaking at a gathering of PTI workers in Lower Dir, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on July 12, Aleema Khan called on party supporters to remain united and continue their struggle in accordance with the party leadership’s directives.
She urged workers to seek justice and accountability while encouraging PTI lawmakers to actively participate in the party’s anti-government campaign.
Aleema also appealed to party legislators to come out of their homes and join the political movement across the country.
Meanwhile, PTI leaders and members of Imran Khan’s family have repeatedly voiced concerns regarding his health and prison conditions at Adiala Jail.
Last month, the former prime minister was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad for a scheduled follow-up eye treatment.
According to the hospital administration, doctors administered his fifth intravitreal injection as part of ongoing treatment for a serious eye condition.
Medical reports submitted before the Supreme Court by Khan’s legal counsel and court-appointed amicus curiae Salman Safdar stated that the former premier has been diagnosed with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), a condition caused by blockage of the main vein draining blood from the retina.
Medical experts say the condition is commonly associated with cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease, and requires continuous monitoring and specialised treatment.
PTI leaders have maintained that Khan should receive appropriate medical care and have continued to call for his release through legal and constitutional means.
