Thousands rally in Pakistan for release of former prime minister Khan

Thousands rallied in the Pakistani capital on Sunday demanding release of former prime minister Imran Khan, who has been behind bars for more than a year, amid a deepening political turmoil in the country.

Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party organized the rally, marking its first show of power since the disputed February general elections.

Local media did not provide live coverage of the event, held on the outskirts of the capital. Images and videos posted on the social media platform X show Khan’s supporters marching towards the capital from various parts of the country.

The PTI accused authorities of harassing workers to suppress attendance at the rally. The city's administration blocked key entry points into Islamabad, with shipping containers and riot police deployed to prevent possible unrest.

"We will not rest until Khan is released from jail,” said Khan’s close aide Hammad Azhar in the opening speech that set the tone of the rally.

Khan is the only person who can save this country from the clutches of corrupt and incompetent politicians, said Salman Akram Raja, a prominent lawyer and PTI leader from Lahore.

Khan has been in jail since August 2023 and is facing trial for allegedly inciting violence on May 9 of that year - the day when his supporters went on a rampage and attacked military installations, something that had never happened before.

Khan denies the allegations. All of his convictions have been either suspended or overturned in recent months.

However, an unprecedented arrest and subsequent court martial of a former spy chief, who is widely believed to have been close to Khan when he was prime minister, has complicated his case.