Free Imran Khan protests sweep across Pakistan as PTI supporters defy government crackdowns. With over 300 arrests and rising tensions, nationwide rallies demand justice and the release of the jailed ex-PM.
MediaBites | August 5, 2025
Pakistan is once again on edge as supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) launched massive ‘Free Imran Khan’ rallies across the country, marking two years since the former prime minister’s controversial arrest. The protests, part of PTI’s 90-day “do or die” campaign, were met with a harsh crackdown, with over 300 arrests, tight security in major cities, and strict enforcement of Section 144.
Protesters Defy Crackdowns, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Becomes Epicenter
While Islamabad and Lahore witnessed heavy police presence and mass detentions, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where PTI still rules, saw the largest demonstrations. KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur led rallies in Peshawar, while massive convoys and processions were reported from over a dozen districts, including Swabi, Charsadda, Upper Chitral, and Kurram.
“This is not just about Imran Khan. This is about the people’s right to choose their leader,” shouted a protestor in Mardan.
“Even in exile or behind bars, he remains Pakistan’s most powerful voice,” echoed another in Shangla.
Government Measures: Arrests, Media Blackouts, and Section 144
Over 120 activists were detained in Lahore alone, with prominent local leaders picked up overnight. Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and parts of Punjab were under a virtual siege, with gatherings banned and social media throttled. Despite this, PTI’s social media teams, especially in KP, kept the digital protest alive, trending #FreeImranKhan globally.
In Rawalpindi, where Khan remains imprisoned in Adiala Jail, authorities sealed key roads and detained dozens of activists, while mainstream media largely remained silent.
Where Are Khan’s Sons? Why the Silence?
Amid these escalating protests, questions are being raised about the absence of Imran Khan’s sons, Suleman and Qasim. Their continued silence during their father’s prolonged imprisonment has drawn public criticism, especially among emotionally charged PTI loyalists.
“Why are they silent when the nation bleeds for their father?” a PTI supporter tweeted.
Is the Government Running A Media Propaganda Machine?
As street protests surged, government-aligned media outlets and Maryam Nawaz’s media team allegedly began a coordinated digital campaign, portraying the PTI rallies as ‘flops’ and framing the arrested protestors as ‘troublemakers.’
This narrative didn’t sit well with observers:
“Are they so out of touch? The streets say otherwise. Twitter, X, even WhatsApp groups are flooded with visuals of defiant crowds,” said a senior journalist anonymously.
Some critics even went on to mock the government’s PR strategy, saying, “When you need to create hashtags to prove there was no protest, it means there was one—and it was big.”
The Momentum Is Real—But Is It Enough?
While protests across KP and parts of Punjab suggest a growing pro-Imran sentiment, the harsh state crackdown, selective media coverage, and lack of strong international backing continue to pose challenges.
Still, the campaign is gathering traction. “They can block roads, suspend internet, and arrest our leaders—but they can’t arrest an idea,” said a PTI student wing leader in Abbottabad.
Final Word
In a nation where political winds shift fast, Imran Khan’s imprisonment has turned into a rallying cry for millions, not just PTI loyalists but also fence-sitters disillusioned with agenda politics.
Whether this “do or die” campaign reshapes the political order or becomes another chapter of repression, only time will tell. But one thing is clear:
The movement is far from over.
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