Will Imran Khan's Supporters March to Islamabad? Key Demands Revealed!
PTI's Call for Justice
Peshawar: Supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) plan to march towards Islamabad on September 27 if their demands for justice regarding the party's founder and former Prime Minister Imran Khan are not met, as announced by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Suhail Afridi.
Afridi made this declaration during a significant gathering of PTI supporters in Peshawar, coinciding with the three-year mark of Khan's imprisonment.
The chief minister outlined two primary demands: first, that the legal cases against Khan and his wife be heard and resolved fairly; second, that they be allowed to meet with their legal representatives, medical professionals, family members, and party officials.
He asserted that if justice is served, Khan could be freed in as little as '30 minutes'; otherwise, citizens from all over the nation would converge on Islamabad on the specified date.
Afridi emphasized that the PTI seeks justice rather than charity, affirming their commitment to pursuing their goals through constitutional and democratic avenues, including peaceful demonstrations.
He welcomed supporters from various regions, noting that individuals from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan had gathered to show their support for Khan, indicating his sustained popularity.
Marking three years since what he referred to as Khan's 'abduction', Afridi claimed that the former leader has been subjected to solitary confinement and that his sisters have faced difficulties when trying to visit him in prison.
He criticized the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments for undermining the judiciary, arguing that courts can no longer operate independently.
The 26th amendment limited the chief justice's term to three years, while the 27th amendment established a new Chief of Defence Forces position and a constitutional court.
Afridi reiterated the PTI's belief that Khan was ousted through an 'external conspiracy' with the help of 'internal collaborators' after he stood firm on Pakistan's sovereignty.
He noted that Khan has prioritized the nation's future over personal comfort and has raised issues of Islamophobia and Muslim rights on the global stage.
Afridi further claimed that the regime change in April 2022 has resulted in economic downturns and a rise in terrorism, particularly affecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has once again become a site of violence and insecurity.
He accused the current government of harming Pakistan's relationships with neighboring countries like Iran, Afghanistan, and China, while also condemning dynastic politics, asserting that the PTI will oppose any attempts to establish hereditary rule.
Afridi stated that the party has pursued all legal avenues without achieving justice, leaving them with no choice but to exercise their constitutional right to peaceful protest.
He called on supporters to persist in their fight for constitutional and democratic rights, promising to lead the march to Islamabad on September 27 if their demands remain unmet.