PTI Launches Hunger Strike Outside Parliament House for Imran Khan’s Release

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has initiated a hunger strike camp outside the Parliament House in Islamabad, demanding the release of the party’s founder, Imran Khan, and other detained leaders. This action comes in response to a series of setbacks, including the sealing of PTI’s central secretariat and the arrest of Information Secretary Raoof Hasan.

The PTI, formerly the ruling party, has encountered significant challenges recently. The central secretariat in Islamabad was sealed earlier today, just a day after Raoof Hasan and several party workers were apprehended by Islamabad police. Hasan was detained for allegedly running a digital media cell involved in anti-Pakistan propaganda.

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, the PTI chairman, addressed journalists outside the Parliament, stating that the hunger strike would be observed daily until 8 PM as a token protest against the perceived injustice and to demand the release of Imran Khan. He also conveyed the party’s concerns to National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq regarding what he described as “illegal and unconstitutional actions.”

“The PTI founder and his wife have been imprisoned for no reason. This camp will continue till the release of the PTI founder,” Gohar emphasized.

The Islamabad administration sealed the PTI’s central office citing a “lack of fire and life safety arrangements.” According to a notice obtained by Geo News, the building lacked essential safety measures such as up-to-date fire extinguishers, an emergency evacuation plan, an independent power source for the emergency system, and standard electric wiring.

This action follows a previous sealing by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) two months ago during an anti-encroachment operation. The PTI office had been reopened following directives from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

Asad Qaiser, a senior PTI leader and former National Assembly speaker, reiterated the party’s primary demand: the release of Imran Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, and other detained members including Raoof Hasan. He criticized the federal government for recent increases in lawlessness and inflation, urging the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to resign over “bad governance and mismanaging the economy.”

PTI Secretary-General Omar Ayub Khan stated that the hunger strike aims to push for the release of the incarcerated former premier, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and other arrested leaders and workers. He also demanded the resignation of what he termed the “Form 47” government, alleging election result manipulation, and called for fresh elections to resolve the country’s crises.

Addressing participants of the hunger strike camp, Shibli Faraz announced that PTI would hold a countrywide protest on Friday, July 26, 2024, as part of its ongoing political struggle. Several PTI lawmakers joined the hunger strike, including Gohar, Qaiser, Omar, Faraz, Latif Khosa, Ali Muhammad Khan, Falak Naz Chitrali, Sheikh Waqas, Senator Humayun Mohmand, Saifullah Abro, Shabbir Ali Qureshi, Sahibzada Sibghatullah, Mehboob Shah, Sajid Mohmand, Dawar Kundi, and others.