RAWALPINDI – August 7, 2025:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) patron-in-chief Imran Khan has firmly ruled out the possibility of his party fielding candidates on seats vacated by disqualified members, asserting that the disqualifications were a result of “unlawful and politically motivated actions.”
This message was relayed to the media by Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, who addressed reporters outside Adiala Jail on Wednesday. She revealed that another sister, Uzma Khan, had been allowed to meet the jailed former prime minister, along with his wife, Bushra Bibi.
According to Aleema, Imran Khan expressed deep satisfaction over the turnout at the party’s August 5 demonstrations, calling it a “remarkable show of resilience by the people” in the face of what he described as systematic oppression. “He was particularly moved by the strong public response in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab,” she added.
Drawing parallels with Pakistan’s turbulent past, Khan reportedly remarked, “Even General Yahya Khan did not stoop to the levels of suppression we are witnessing today. Media voices are silenced, and injustice is rampant—but freedom always demands sacrifice.”
In a defiant tone, the PTI founder has now called for a nationwide protest on August 14, urging citizens to take to the streets for what he described as the struggle for “true freedom” and “the rule of law.” He also encouraged party leaders to remain undeterred by arrests or the threat of imprisonment.
During the meeting, Imran also addressed ongoing military operations in tribal districts, which he criticized as being designed to stoke resentment against the PTI. “These issues should be addressed through traditional jirgas, not through force,” he reportedly said.
He specifically urged the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government to step in and halt the operations, warning that if Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur is unable to intervene, “he must rethink his role and responsibility.”
Reiterating his stance on the disqualified lawmakers, Imran made it clear that PTI would not be legitimizing what he views as politically engineered removals by contesting those seats. “We won’t participate in a process that stems from injustice,” Aleema quoted him as saying.
As the political climate continues to intensify, Imran Khan’s latest call for action on Independence Day sets the stage for another high-stakes showdown between his party and the government.
