Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser on Sunday announced that all preparations for the party’s planned protest on August 5, have been completed as they push ahead with demonstrations demanding the release of PTI founder Imran Khan.
Khan, who was ousted from the office of the country’s Prime Minister through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, remains behind bars facing multiple charges, including corruption and terrorism, linked to his alleged role in the May 9 riots in 2023.
In response to his continued detention, PTI has called for nationwide protests on August 5. Imran Khan has reportedly directed all party members to put aside internal disputes and fully support the protest movement.
Speaking at a press conference in Swabi, in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), alongside fellow PTI leader Shahram Khan Tarakai, Qaiser said the protest would be peaceful and fully within the law and the Constitution.
“This movement is about justice, not confrontation. We want a fair trial of our leader’s [Imran Khan] cases based on merit,” Qaiser said, as quoted by the local media.
He pointed out that August 5, is a significant date for PTI, marking the day of Imran Khan’s arrest, which he described as a defining moment in the party’s political journey.
Qaiser added that although Imran Khan could potentially be released quickly, he refuses to enter into any political deal.
He also underlined the importance of cross-border trade with Afghanistan, highlighting its vital role in stabilising Pakistan’s economy.
“PTI founder’s release could happen within an hour, but he will not make any deal,” Qaiser added.
Meanwhile, KP government spokesperson Faraz Mughal said that the provincial leadership remains fully aligned with Imran Khan’s vision, noting that KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur would step down immediately if Khan instructed him to do so.
“The KP government has been entrusted by the PTI founder… whenever he [Imran Khan] wishes, CM Ali Amin Gandapur will step down,” Mughal stated, responding to reports that Khan had expressed dissatisfaction over the security situation in KP.
Earlier, that Khan had called for Gandapur’s resignation if he failed to restore law and order in the province or manage governance issues effectively.
However, Mughal clarified that there has been no official confirmation from Imran Khan regarding any such instruction.
The planned protest comes amid rising security concerns in Pakistan, which has witnessed an increase in terror activities since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, with the provinces of KP and Balochistan being among the worst affected.
A police report obtained from the local medis shows that 476 acts of terrorism were reported in KP between January and July 2025. These attacks claimed the lives of 121 civilians and left 301 injured. Additionally, 66 police officers were martyred and 90 wounded.
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