On 29th anniversary, PTI demands freedom for Imran Khan, party workers

• Resolution also demands freedom of Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
• We demand return of our legitimate mandate, states resolution.
• Imran Khan can unite, says opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan.

ISLAMABAD: At an event held at the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) House to commemorate the 29th anniversary of its founding, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) called for the release of its workers and party leadership, including founding chairman Imran Khan.

A resolution was passed on this occasion in this regard, wherein they vowed to continue fighting for the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution. KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur was among the party leaders in attendance, The News reported.

The resolution also denounced the recent Indian measures and accusations, in addition to reaffirming the nation's commitment to standing with its armed forces to defend the country.

“Just as our leader Imran Khan had said as prime minister that we will not only think of giving a befitting reply in the event of any external aggression against Pakistan, but will give a befitting reply and the entire Pakistani nation will have only one answer to its enemy,” the statement read.

The resolution demanded freedom of all political captives including PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, while condemning the “illegal” incarceration of Imran.

The resolution stated: “The nation responded to the call of its leader Imran Khan and won the PTI with a huge majority in the February 8, 2024, elections. Unfortunately, the party’s mandate was stolen. This is a robbery on the rights of the people and an attack on the Constitution. We strongly demand the return of our legitimate mandate.

“We strongly condemn the ongoing oppression and fascism in the country and also strongly demand the restoration of personal, political, journalistic freedoms and basic human rights suspended in the country.

“The judiciary has been greatly weakened by the 26th Constitutional Amendment. We also strongly demand the restoration of the Constitution in its original form and the restoration of the dignity of the Supreme Court.”

Meanwhile, speaking on the occasion, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan, said: “The 29th foundation day of the PTI is dedicated to the martyrs of May 9 and November 26 and to the political prisoners imprisoned for the struggle for true freedom and democracy in the country.”

Ayub said the struggle of the PTI was meant for the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law. “We will continue this struggle until the supremacy of the Constitution and the rule of law are truly established in the country,” he remarked.

About Pak-India situation, he said the Modi government had suspended the Indus Waters Treaty and waged a war of words.

“We, the Pakistani nation, will fight like a wall of lead. At this time, there is a need to unite the nation. Imran Khan can unite the nation and steer the country out of the current situation, but he has been tied up,” he said.

Former speaker National Assembly and founding member of PTI Asad Qaiser said the party was the name of a long struggle, adding: “We want a judicial system in which the entire nation can trust”.

Earlier, PTI leaders and members of the parliament marched from the Parliament House to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in connection with the party’s foundation day.