Peshawar: Thousands of supporters of jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday took out a rally in the country's sensitive northwestern region demanding his immediate release on the completion of one year of his arrest. Officials gave this information. This rally is being seen as an attempt to put pressure on the government of Imran's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party to release the former prime minister without any delay. This rally was taken out in Swabi city of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, where Imran's party is ruling. 

Biggest performance after 2022

More than 10,000 supporters of Imran were seen waving party flags in Swabi and raising slogans in support of the former prime minister. Top party leaders told the protesters in their speech that Imran would be among them soon. This is the biggest demonstration in the country after the year 2022, when Imran was ousted from power through a no-confidence motion in Parliament.

A big demonstration is planned

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur asked protesters to be ready to march to Islamabad in the coming weeks as the PTI plans to hold a major demonstration in the capital later this month or early next month. Gandapur said the party would defy every restriction if it was not allowed to hold a rally in the national capital. 

Imran is in jail

Imran Khan was arrested on August 5, 2023 after an Islamabad court sentenced him to three years in prison in a corruption case. In recent months, the sentences in all cases against Imran were suspended or overturned. However, he remains in jail as some cases against him are pending trial. (AP)