Islamabad, Dec 14 (EFE).- Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister, Imran Khan, issued a civil disobedience ultimatum set to begin on Saturday if his demands went unmet.
However, the deadline passed with no clear announcement from his his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on when the movement would commence.
Khan had called for the government to establish a judicial commission to investigate two incidents: the riots in May 2023 and the deadly crackdown on PTI workers on Nov. 26 in Islamabad.
Additionally, he demanded the release of under-trial “political prisoners.”
Last month, Khan’s PTI announced a “do or die” long march on Islamabad, calling for his release.
When thousands of protesters reached the capital, security forces launched a crackdown, allegedly killing at least a dozen and wounding over 100, according to PTI claims.
In response to the violence, the PTI declared Sunday a national and global day of mourning to honor what it has termed the “martyrs of the Islamabad Massacre.”
We have been pushed to the limit. Our people are shot at directly when they protest peacefully. Even the data of our martyrs has been concealed. Many have been made to disappear,” a statement attributed to Khan read on PTI’s X account.
Khan reiterated his call for civil disobedience but did not provide a clear timeline.
“We have no option left but to launch a civil disobedience movement in full force if our demands for an independent judicial commission comprising senior-most judges and the release of political prisoners are not met,” he said in the message.
As part of the campaign, Khan outlined plans to reduce foreign remittances from overseas Pakistanis—PTI’s largest support base.
“We urge state institutions to expose and stop those sowing discord between the people and the military. We will not let our country fall apart.”
Khan, ousted from office in April 2022 after a fallout with the powerful army, has accused the military leadership of orchestrating his removal through a parliamentary vote.
Since his arrest in August 2023, Khan has faced over 100 legal cases, which he claims are politically motivated. Despite repeated calls for dialogue with the military establishment, no progress has been made to date. EFE
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