Thousands of supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan staged peaceful demonstrations across Pakistan and in several overseas cities on Wednesday to mark three years since his imprisonment, renewing demands for his release and raising fresh concerns over human rights, political freedoms and police conduct.
One of the largest gatherings took place outside a court complex in Lahore, where lawyers, political leaders and supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party assembled carrying banners and chanting slogans calling for Khan’s immediate release, according to The Express Tribune. Similar demonstrations were reported in other parts of Pakistan as well as by overseas Pakistani communities.
Senior PTI leaders addressed the gathering, insisting that the cases against Khan were politically motivated and urging authorities to withdraw all charges. The party said it would continue peaceful protests until its founding leader was released.
The demonstration, however, was overshadowed by allegations of police brutality. PTI leaders said Punjab Police assaulted journalist Natiq Rehan while he was covering the protest, claiming he was attacked despite performing his professional duties. The allegation has added to longstanding criticism of policing in Pakistan’s largest province, where rights advocates and opposition parties have repeatedly accused law enforcement of using excessive force against peaceful political workers, journalists and government critics while operating with little accountability.
There was no immediate official response from Punjab Police regarding the reported assault.
Khan has remained behind bars since August 2023 after his conviction in a corruption case. Since then, he has faced several additional prosecutions involving corruption, official secrets and marriage-related allegations. Khan and PTI have consistently rejected the charges, describing them as politically driven attempts to exclude the country’s most popular opposition leader from public life. The Pakistani government has denied those accusations, maintaining that all judicial proceedings are independent and conducted according to the law.
As Pakistan marked the third anniversary of Khan’s imprisonment, Amnesty International renewed its criticism of his detention. The international human rights organisation said Khan had been denied a fair trial and subjected to prolonged solitary confinement while facing restrictions on family visits, legal counsel and adequate medical care.
Amnesty International also called on Pakistani authorities to respect the rights of peaceful protesters, refrain from arbitrary crackdowns and ensure that Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, receive regular access to their families, lawyers and appropriate medical treatment. The organisation’s statement has intensified international attention on Pakistan’s human rights record at a time when concerns over political freedoms, judicial independence and freedom of expression continue to draw growing global scrutiny.
