Over 30 members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were detained in Lahore on Tuesday during nationwide protests marking the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s imprisonment.
The protests were launched as part of a broader movement called by Imran Khan to demand the restoration of what he termed “true democracy” and his immediate release from prison. Khan has been incarcerated since August 5, 2023, following a conviction in a case involving state gifts and a separate £190 million corruption case. He also faces several ongoing trials, including terrorism-related charges stemming from the May 9, 2023, unrest.
As the protests kicked off, Lahore’s police confirmed the detention of more than 30 PTI activists for attempting to block roads across different areas of the city. Authorities rejected claims that hundreds of party supporters had been arrested.
Among those detained was PTI leader Rehana Dar, who had previously contested the 2024 general elections from Sialkot. Videos circulated online showed her being taken away by riot police amid loud slogans, prompting strong criticism from PTI supporters. The party accused the Punjab administration and law enforcement of violating political and civil liberties, calling the treatment of Dar a “new low.”
In north Punjab, Raja Shahbaz Bhatti, head of the PTI’s Insaf Youth Wing, reported injuries due to police action and claimed that four other individuals were arrested alongside him. Similar detentions were reported in Balochistan, where the party’s provincial president Dawood Shah Kakar confirmed the arrest of several activists and five local leaders during a protest gathering in Kohlu district.
PTI’s Multan chapter claimed that a convoy participating in the Lahore protest was “attacked” by police, resulting in damaged vehicles. Images shared by the group showed a car’s shattered rear window, allegedly due to baton charges or projectiles.
Meanwhile, the Rawalpindi administration enforced Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, banning public gatherings until August 10, citing security concerns. Despite the restriction, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, Tehreek Tahafuz Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) leader Mahmood Achakzai, MNA Shandana Gulzar, and others attempted to march toward Adiala Jail, where Imran Khan is currently held. They were stopped by police, and videos showed arguments between political leaders and security personnel over road closures.
In Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was expected to lead a major rally, with videos showing preparations including large containers arranged for the stage. PTI also posted footage of convoys from Peshawar, Mansehra, and other cities heading to Swabi in solidarity.
Former Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi, who had been detained under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance, joined a rally following his release the night before.
Former PTI leaders Asad Umar and Fawad Chaudhry, despite having parted ways with the party after the May 9 incidents, expressed solidarity with Imran Khan on social media. Umar argued that the public continues to believe Khan is imprisoned for political reasons rather than legal ones, and called on all national leaders to initiate a dialogue with PTI for a constitutional resolution. Chaudhry described Imran Khan’s imprisonment as a sacrifice made “for the sake of democracy and people’s sovereignty.”
The protests, detentions, and reactions highlight ongoing political tensions in Pakistan as PTI seeks to intensify its campaign for Khan’s release and calls for broader institutional reforms.
