PTI Launches Nationwide Protests Demanding Imran Khan’s Release; Mass Arrests Reported

ISLAMABAD (RNN TV) – In a dramatic show of defiance, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has launched a full-scale nationwide protest movement, challenging widespread arrests, blanket bans, and intense security restrictions — all in a renewed push to secure the release of its jailed founder, Imran Khan, who has now spent two years behind bars.

Despite the enforcement of Section 144 — which prohibits public gatherings — PTI supporters, lawmakers, and leaders poured onto the streets across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir. The government responded with aggressive overnight raids, detaining hundreds of party workers, but the movement is only gaining momentum.

At the heart of the unrest is Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where Khan is incarcerated. The jail is now at the center of an unprecedented security lockdown. Following a request from the prison superintendent, authorities have deployed hundreds of officers, erected barricades, and set up checkpoints to prevent supporters from reaching the site.

Adding to the tension, Aleema Khan, Imran Khan’s sister, is reportedly leading a surprise push toward Adiala, joined by several senior PTI figures. The party’s Secretary General, Salman Akram Raja, has approached the Islamabad High Court, seeking clarity on any legal charges against him amid growing fears of his arrest.

Meanwhile, former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser reaffirmed PTI’s uncompromising stance, declaring that the party will not engage in secret negotiations and remains fully committed to its public resistance campaign.

Islamabad & Rawalpindi on Lockdown

Authorities in the twin cities have gone into high alert, with Section 144 firmly in place. In a late-night notification, Rawalpindi administration warned of “credible threats” to both national security and critical infrastructure, banning protests, rallies, sit-ins, and gatherings of more than five people.

Despite the sweeping restrictions, PTI appears undeterred.

Lahore Sees Crackdown, But Protest Plans Move Ahead

In Lahore, police launched door-to-door raids, arresting numerous party workers in an attempt to disrupt the protest preparations. PTI’s local leadership accused the Punjab government of “crossing all limits of political oppression,” vowing that protestors would still take to the streets in large numbers.

With scenes unfolding reminiscent of Pakistan’s most charged political moments, all eyes remain fixed on what happens next — especially as PTI’s leadership hints at further surprise actions and escalating public pressure.

Source: Web Desk