- By Shivangi Sharma
- Sun, 13 Jul 2025 11:33 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Tensions flared in Lahore as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party launched its much-anticipated “Free Imran Khan” movement ahead of its originally planned schedule. What was expected to begin on August 5 has already started, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur arriving in Lahore late Saturday night to formally kick off the campaign demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The PTI’s top leadership, including Gandapur and other senior party figures, has stationed itself at a farmhouse in Raiwind, strategically located near the residence of the influential Sharif family. The site is now serving as the movement’s coordination hub, where protest strategies and future mobilisations are being finalised.
PTI Begins Campaign Despite Arrest Fears
The 72-year-old cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan has remained in prison since August 2023, facing multiple legal charges. With his incarceration viewed by supporters as politically motivated, PTI has vowed a full-scale national agitation to press for his immediate release. Though the official launch date was scheduled for next week, party members began informal mobilisations over the weekend.
As soon as the movement began, police in Lahore were put on high alert. According to PTI, law enforcement began a crackdown, raiding homes of party workers and conducting pre-emptive arrests to block the protests before they could gain momentum.
“Punjab Police have been raiding homes of PTI leaders and activists across Lahore and other parts of the province to prevent them from joining the protests,” a PTI spokesperson said on Sunday.
Arrests Spark Backlash
While Punjab Police denied making any arrests, senior sources within the force confirmed to the Press Trust of India (PTI) that at least 20 party supporters had been detained across Lahore and nearby districts. These arrests were made as workers attempted to gather to welcome Ali Amin Gandapur and other leaders.
The PTI, undeterred by the state response, claims it will escalate its efforts leading up to the August 5 campaign, vowing mass rallies across major cities in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.
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With political temperatures rising and public support for Khan still significant, the “Free Imran Khan” movement is shaping up to be a major test for the Shehbaz Sharif government and the military establishment.