LAHORE:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Salman Akram Raja has called for a nationwide protest on August 5, urging the public to rally behind what he described as a “historic movement.”
Framing the party’s struggle as a fight for national sovereignty rather than mere political survival, Raja appealed for mass participation to defend democratic rights.
Addressing a press conference in Lahore on Monday alongside senior PTI leaders, he condemned what he called unconstitutional actions targeting PTI lawmakers, describing a broader crackdown on dissent.
He criticised the Punjab Assembly’s decision to send references against 26 PTI members to the Election Commission of Pakistan, calling the move unlawful and politically motivated. “Our members will continue to raise their voices against this unconstitutional step,” he said.
Raja accused the government of systematically sidelining over 100 elected PTI members through the manipulation of Form-47 during the electoral process. “This is not just political engineering—it is an assault on the people’s mandate,” he asserted.
He further alleged that the May 9 protests were deliberately misrepresented, claiming that what began as a peaceful demonstration was later portrayed as a violent conspiracy. He called for the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the events and demanded the release of CCTV footage to substantiate the allegations made against PTI supporters.
“In jail, Imran Khan continues to praise our assembly members for standing firm,” Raja noted, adding that the PTI founder has been denied both legal and family access and is being subjected to harsh conditions, including long hours without ventilation. -Agencies
