As previously announced, thousands of supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan took to the streets to wake up the Shahbaz government. Supporters of his party Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) started a massive march from Lakki Marwat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to demand Imran's release. Their aim is to reach Islamabad after covering 275 km. Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif's administration pulled out all the stops to stop PTI's march. At least 2000 people have been arrested in addition to baton charges.
According to Pakistani media sources, after the procession started from Lakki Marwat on Sunday, there was a massive clash between Frontier Force (FPF) and supporters of Imran Khan 3 km away. Besides throwing stones from both sides, the police resorted to baton charges. Imran's supporters resisted in return. Meanwhile, army chief Asim Munir held a meeting on Saturday night to stop the procession. A major operation was carried out in Punjab province on Saturday night itself. Many people were arrested. PTI claims that at least 2000 of their supporters have been arrested. Security has been beefed up on major roads in Islamabad. Containers have been dropped and the road has been blocked.
Wasim, a 22-year-old youth, said, “We don't care about our lives. We will not back down no matter how much repression Shahbaz and Munir do. Whatever happens. We will reach Islamabad.”
But Waseem, a 22-year-old youth who joined the mass march unwilling to back down, said, “We don't care about our lives. We will not back down no matter how much repression Shahbaz and Munir do. Whatever happens will happen. We will reach Islamabad.” In addition, 35-year-old Zakir, a resident of Sindh, said that inflation has increased terribly during the Shahbaz Sharif government. There is no employment, there is no law and order in the country. It is time to oust them.'
Note that 73-year-old Imran Khan has been imprisoned in Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail since 2023. There are more than 100 cases against him. Out of which he has been sentenced in three cases. These are 14 years in the Al Qadir Trust case, 10 years in the document leak case and three years in the Tosakhana case. Imran's wife Bushra is also in jail in the Tosakhana case. Imran's sisters Alima, Uzma and Noorin have also been kept in custody since September. However, PTI claims that Shahbaz government is carrying out this repression due to political revenge. Thousands of people took to the streets to demand his release.