On Tuesday, the embattled Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) established a hunger strike camp outside the Parliament House in Islamabad to demand the release of party founder Imran Khan and other leaders.
The former ruling party has faced several setbacks recently, including the sealing of its central secretariat in the federal capital earlier in the day, following the arrest of the party’s Information Secretary, Raoof Hasan, and other party workers. Hasan was taken into custody by Islamabad police from the PTI Central Secretariat due to his involvement in managing a digital media cell allegedly engaged in anti-Pakistan propaganda.
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Speaking to journalists outside parliament, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan stated that the hunger strike would be observed daily until 8 PM as a symbolic protest against what they see as “injustice” and to demand the release of Imran Khan, advocating for the supremacy of parliament. He also mentioned that he conveyed the party’s concerns about “illegal and unconstitutional actions” to National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq.
Gohar condemned the sealing of the party’s secretariat, which the Islamabad administration justified citing “lack of fire and life safety arrangements.” The administration’s notice highlighted deficiencies such as outdated fire extinguishers, an inadequate emergency evacuation plan, a lack of an independent power source for the emergency system, and substandard electric wiring. This is not the first time the secretariat has been sealed; it was previously closed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) during an anti-encroachment operation, although it was reopened following directives from the Islamabad High Court (IHC).
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Former National Assembly Speaker and senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser reiterated the party’s demands, calling for the release of the PTI founder, his wife Bushra Bibi, Raoof Hasan, and other detained party workers. He criticized the federal government for the current lawlessness and inflation in the country, urging the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government to resign due to “bad governance and mismanaging the economy.”
PTI Secretary-General Omar Ayub Khan emphasized that the hunger strike aimed to secure the release of the incarcerated former premier, PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and other detained leaders and workers. He also condemned the Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) for sealing the PTI’s central office again, accusing them of neglecting their responsibilities.
Additionally, Omar called for the resignation of the current government, referencing the alleged manipulation in the February 8 election results, and advocated for fresh elections to resolve the country’s crisis.
During the hunger strike camp, Shibli Faraz highlighted that the event was part of the PTI’s ongoing political struggle, announcing a countrywide protest on Friday, July 26, 2024.
The hunger strike camp was attended by several PTI lawmakers, 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.