By Pakistani police on Tuesday released Gohar Khan, the president of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s opposition party, a day after detaining him outside parliament on charges of allegedly inciting violence, party officials said.
Gohar Khan, who is not related to the former premier, was arrested along with several other leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party as they demanded the release of Imran Khan from prison. The Islamabad police confirmed Gohar Khan’s release in a statement.
Following his release, Gohar Khan, who is also a member of parliament, described the arrests as an attack on the legislature. He called on the National Assembly speaker to launch an investigation into the incident.
“This is not just about our party, but about the integrity of our parliamentary system,” Gohar Khan told reporters outside the police station. “We were exercising our democratic right to protest peacefully.”
Zulfi Bukhari, a spokesperson for the PTI, said that while Gohar Khan had been freed, 12 other party members remained in police custody. “We demand their immediate release and an end to these tactics of intimidation,” Bukhari stated.
The PTI’s top leadership vehemently denounced the arrests, vowing to continue their campaign for the release of Imran Khan, who was imprisoned last year following his conviction in a graft case.
“These arrests will not deter us from our mission to restore true democracy in Pakistan,” said Shah Mahmood Qureshi, PTI’s vice chairman, in a statement. “We will persist in our peaceful struggle for justice and the rule of law.”
Imran Khan, who was ousted from power in a no-confidence vote in 2022, remains a popular figure in Pakistani politics despite his imprisonment. His supporters argue that the charges against him are politically motivated.
The incident has heightened tensions between the government and the opposition, with PTI accusing authorities of using heavy-handed tactics to suppress dissent. The government, however, maintains that it is acting within the law to maintain public order.
International human rights organizations have expressed concern over the arrests, calling on Pakistani authorities to respect the right to peaceful protest and political expression.
As the political situation remains fluid, observers note that the handling of opposition leaders could have significant implications for Pakistan’s democratic process and its image on the international stage.
The PTI has announced plans for further protests in the coming days, setting the stage for a potential escalation in the confrontation between the opposition and the government.
Credit: apnews.com
