Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, has issued a stark warning that nationwide protests will erupt if the 73-year-old leader is not permitted to meet his party colleagues this week. The ultimatum was delivered by Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, during a press conference on Monday, where he made clear that the government would be held accountable for any harm befalling Khan while in custody.
Speaking alongside senior PTI leaders, including Salman Akram Raja, Afridi said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and key members of his cabinet would bear responsibility for Khan's safety. The warning comes amid growing tensions between the former ruling party and the current coalition government, with PTI repeatedly alleging political victimization and violations of human rights in Khan's detention.
The Deadline and the Warning
Afridi announced that all PTI parliamentarians would travel to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Thursday to meet Khan. He issued a blunt warning: if the meeting is not allowed, the entire country will be turned into a protest zone resembling Islamabad's Democracy Square, known as D-Chowk. "Entire Pakistan will be turned into D-Chowk by 10 pm on Thursday if Khan is not allowed to meet them," he said.
D-Chowk holds deep symbolic significance for PTI supporters. It was the epicenter of massive anti-government demonstrations following Khan's arrest in May 2023, when thousands of his supporters clashed with security forces. The protest site has since become shorthand for mass mobilization against the state establishment. Afridi's invocation of D-Chowk signals that PTI is prepared for a nationwide escalation.
The chief minister also revealed that Khan's family had given an assurance that no political discussion would take place during the proposed meeting. He urged the government to accept this guarantee and allow the visit, stressing that the demand is not confrontational but humanitarian.
Health Concerns and Medical Demands
Beyond the meeting, PTI is pressing for improved medical care for Khan, who has been lodged in Adiala Jail since 2023. Khan faces multiple legal cases, ranging from corruption charges to accusations of inciting violence, all of which he and his party claim are politically motivated. His lawyers and family members have repeatedly said that Khan's health is deteriorating, citing a severe eye condition and other ailments that require specialist treatment.
"The only demand is that Imran Khan should be provided with the best possible medical facilities," Afridi said. He added that both Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, who was arrested in 2024, are facing serious health issues. Bushra Bibi, Khan's third wife, has been imprisoned in connection with a corruption case, and her health has also become a matter of concern for the party.
PTI leaders have alleged for years that the authorities are intentionally denying Khan proper medical attention, as part of a broader effort to break him physically and psychologically. They have accused prison officials of restricting visits from family members and party leaders, as well as ignoring court orders and medical recommendations. The party has also claimed that Khan's legal team has faced harassment and that his access to confidential documents has been curtailed.
Background: From Cricket Legend to Prime Minister
Imran Khan's journey from cricket legend to political leader is one of the most dramatic trajectories in modern South Asian history. Born in Lahore in 1952, Khan rose to international fame as the captain of Pakistan's cricket team, leading the country to its first-ever World Cup victory in 1992. His charisma and leadership on the field translated into a political career when he founded PTI in 1996, promising to build a 'Naya Pakistan' (New Pakistan) free of corruption and dynastic politics.
For years, PTI remained a marginal force in Pakistan's political landscape, but Khan's appeal grew, particularly among the urban middle class and the youth. In 2018, following an election marked by allegations of military interference and rigging, PTI emerged as the largest party, and Khan became prime minister. His government focused on anti-corruption campaigns, economic reforms, and a controversial push for a welfare state, including the creation of a social safety net program.
However, Khan's tenure was also marked by economic instability and growing friction with the powerful military establishment. Relations soured after Khan resisted military influence over key foreign policy and internal security decisions. In April 2022, a no-confidence motion was passed against him, making him the first Pakistani prime minister to be ousted through a vote of no confidence. He claimed that the United States and local opponents had conspired to remove him, a charge Washington denied.
Political Turmoil and Imprisonment
Following his ouster, Khan launched a series of mass rallies demanding early elections. His populist rhetoric galvanized millions, but also led to confrontations with the state. In November 2022, he survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Wazirabad, which he blamed on the government and the establishment. In May 2023, after his arrest in a corruption case, violent protests erupted across Pakistan, with PTI supporters attacking military installations, including the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and the residence of the corps commander in Lahore. The military labeled the attacks 'Black Day' and launched a nationwide crackdown on PTI.
Khan has been in prison since August 2023, following a conviction in the Toshakhana case, in which he was accused of illegally selling state gifts. Although several convictions have been suspended or overturned on appeal, he remains incarcerated due to a web of other cases, including charges of revealing state secrets, inciting violence during the May 9 riots, and receiving illegal funds. PTI and independent legal experts have described these cases as fabricated to sideline a popular opposition leader.
The Human Rights Allegations
Khan's party has consistently raised alarms over his treatment in prison. In numerous petition to courts, PTI lawyers have argued that Khan is being held in solitary confinement, denied adequate food and sleep, and deprived of basic amenities. The party has also claimed that prison authorities have eavesdropped on his meetings with lawyers, making it impossible to prepare a defense.
The eye condition, which his doctors have described as an infection or a complication from an earlier injury, has become a rallying point. In early 2024, Khan underwent medical tests at a hospital in Rawalpindi, but PTI leaders say the follow-up treatment has been inadequate. They have demanded that a panel of independent specialists be allowed to examine him. In response, the government has said that Khan is receiving proper medical care and that any specialist consultations are provided as needed.
Khan's wife, Bushra Bibi, has also become a symbol of the party's grievances. Arrested in January 2024, she has been held in a sub-jail in Bani Gala, on the outskirts of Islamabad. Her health, according to PTI, has deteriorated due to the conditions of her detention. The party has called for her release on humanitarian grounds, pointing out that she has a history of medical conditions.
Will the Government Back Down?
The government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has not yet responded to Afridi's Thursday deadline. In the past, the government has often dismissed PTI's threats as political theater, but it has also been careful to avoid incidents that could trigger widespread unrest. With Pakistan already facing economic challenges, including inflation and a precarious balance of payments position, any protests would be an additional burden on the state apparatus.
PTI's strategy appears to be designed to keep pressure on the government without crossing the line into outright violence. By framing the demand as a humanitarian issue—access to medical care and family/party meetings—the party hopes to attract public sympathy. At the same time, the warning about turning Pakistan into D-Chowk is a clear message that PTI remains capable of mobilizing its base.
Political analysts note that Khan's popularity has remained high even in prison. His approval ratings have not slumped, and PTI has won a series of by-elections in 2023 and 2024, despite the crackdown. This resilience has made Khan a lasting headache for the government and the military establishment. The standoff over the jail meeting is, therefore, not just about a single visit; it is a test of strength between a defiant opposition and a state determined to keep its most prominent critic behind bars.
For now, all eyes are on Thursday. PTI says it will hold a 'peaceful protest' if the meeting is denied, but the language of 'turning the entire country into D-Chowk' suggests a much more aggressive posture. The government's choice will determine whether Pakistan sees another round of street politics or a temporary de-escalation. Meanwhile, Khan remains in jail, his health—and his political future—hanging in the balance.
Source: MSN News