Thousands of supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan have staged a massive protest in Islamabad, demanding his immediate release from prison.
The demonstration was organized by Khan’s political party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and saw a large turnout of supporters.
Khan, a popular former cricket player, was ousted from office in April 2022 through a no-confidence vote.
He has been incarcerated since August 2023 on charges of inciting violence following clashes between his supporters and military installations in May of that year.
PTI party members believe that the charges against Khan are politically motivated and aimed at silencing the opposition.
Hammad Azhar, a close aide to Khan, has vowed that the protests will continue until their leader is freed.
Authorities have deployed a heavy presence of police and military personnel to the protest sites in an attempt to maintain order.
Despite the increased security, tensions remain high as Khan’s supporters continue to press for his release.