Pakistan witnessed fresh political unrest as supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan took to the streets across the country to mark three years since his imprisonment.
Demonstrations organised by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party were reported in several cities, with protesters demanding his immediate release. More than 100 PTI supporters were detained during the protests, according to reports, as authorities moved to contain demonstrations in different parts of the country.
The anniversary has become an important moment for Khan’s supporters, who continue to see his imprisonment as part of a wider political struggle. For Pakistan’s authorities, however, PTI-led demonstrations remain a sensitive security issue after years of political confrontation and repeated street protests.
Tensions were particularly visible in Rawalpindi, where police used tear gas to disperse protesters. Clashes were reported between demonstrators and security personnel as crowds attempted to press ahead with their demands.
The protests were not limited to Rawalpindi. Supporters gathered in other parts of Pakistan, including cities where PTI maintains a strong political base. Demonstrators carried pictures and flags associated with Khan and called for an end to his prolonged detention.
At a rally in Peshawar, organisers also announced a deadline of September 27, signalling that the latest demonstrations could become the beginning of another phase of PTI’s street mobilisation rather than a one-day event.
Khan, who served as Pakistan‘s prime minister from 2018 to 2022, has remained behind bars since August 2023. His imprisonment has followed a series of criminal cases and convictions, while his supporters have repeatedly rejected the cases as politically motivated.
The former cricket star’s political influence has remained significant despite his imprisonment. PTI has continued to campaign around his release, while Khan’s legal team and family have raised concerns about his treatment and access to him.
The issue has also attracted international attention. Human rights organisations have previously raised concerns about Khan’s detention and the treatment of PTI members. Amnesty International, for example, has described his detention as arbitrary and pointed to concerns over fair-trial rights.
The political dispute surrounding Khan is closely linked to the wider crisis that has affected Pakistan since his removal from office in April 2022.
His government lost a parliamentary confidence vote, after which Khan became a leading opposition figure. His subsequent arrest in May 2023 triggered some of the country’s most serious political violence in recent years, with attacks on military and government installations followed by a major crackdown on PTI.
Khan was released briefly after that arrest but was detained again in August 2023. Since then, his legal battles have continued across several cases.
PTI supporters argue that the prolonged imprisonment has effectively prevented Khan from participating normally in political life. The government and state institutions, however, have maintained that the cases against him are legal matters and that he is not being imprisoned simply because of his political position.
The latest protests show that the dispute has not disappeared.
In Rawalpindi, the use of tear gas illustrated the continuing difficulty authorities face in balancing public demonstrations with security concerns. The arrests of more than 100 supporters could further increase tensions between PTI and the government.
There are also growing concerns about what comes next.
PTI leaders have repeatedly struggled to maintain nationwide mobilisation after previous protests were met with arrests and restrictions. Yet the continued turnout around Khan’s imprisonment anniversary suggests that the former prime minister retains a committed support base.
The latest developments also come against a complicated political and economic backdrop for Pakistan. The government faces pressure over economic conditions, governance and security, while opposition politics remain sharply divided.
For Khan’s supporters, however, the message remains straightforward: they want their leader released.
The September 27 deadline announced at the Peshawar rally could therefore become an important date in Pakistan’s political calendar. Whether PTI can turn the latest protests into a sustained nationwide movement will depend on its organisational strength and the response from authorities.
