PTI announces nationwide public mobilisation campaign, Karachi rally

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced the launch of a nationwide public mobilisation campaign and a major rally in Karachi in November.

According to a press release issued on Wednesday, the decision was made during PTI Secretary General Barrister Salman Akram Raja’s visit to Karachi, where he met with party leaders including PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, Parliamentary Leader Shabbir Qureshi, and Jamal Siddiqui.

During the meetings, Raja held detailed consultations on the prevailing political situation, the strategy for PTI founder Imran Khan’s release, and organisational matters.

Later, talking to the media, Barrister Raja said that a large public rally will be held in Karachi in November, followed by similar gatherings in Hyderabad and other major cities as part of the nationwide movement to strengthen public engagement.

The senior PTI leader said the party remained “united and mobilised for Imran Khan’s release.”

Raja said that Mahmood Khan Achakzai had been nominated as opposition leader in the National Assembly, Raja Nasir Abbas in the Senate, calling these developments a “wave of political renewal within PTI.”

Earlier, the PTI formally requested the appointment of Mehmood Khan Achakzai as leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.

Reaffirming the party’s commitment, he said, “We stand for the supremacy of the Constitution and rule of law. Truth and justice will prevail. All false cases against Imran Khan are collapsing in courts, though delaying tactics are being used to obstruct justice — but these baseless cases will soon end.”

Reiterating Imran Khan’s message, Raja said the PTI founder had urged the nation to “keep faith in Allah — victory always belongs to truth.” He added that Imran Khan had directed the party to raise public awareness across the country against injustice through rallies and people’s engagement.

Expressing deep concern over the situation in Sindh, Raja said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has pushed the province to the brink of ruin during its 17-year rule.

He said that cities from Karachi to interior Sindh were suffering from neglect, lawlessness, and poor governance, making life miserable for citizens. Raja said he personally visited several cities in Sindh and witnessed “widespread despair and decay.”

He accused the PPP of looting Sindh’s public resources through corruption but added that “the people of Sindh have now awakened. Wherever we went, we witnessed tremendous support for Imran Khan — the people want change and an honest, courageous, and sincere leader like him.”

Imran Khan, imprisoned since August 2023, is serving a sentence in Adiala jail in the £190 million corruption case and faces additional charges under the Anti-Terrorism Act related to the May 9 incidents.

PTI has repeatedly voiced concern over restricted access to Imran Khan, saying that his family, lawyers, and party colleagues have been prevented from meeting him.

Last week, the party said Imran Khan had offered to play a role in resolving recent Pakistan-Afghanistan tensions and other national issues if released on parole.

Earlier this month, the PTI also expressed fears that Imran Khan could be moved from Adiala Jail to an undisclosed location to further restrict his communication with his family and legal team.