Tens of thousands of supporters of the “Imran Khan” and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have gathered in Swabi, forming a procession several kilometers long. This major power show comes one year after the arrest of their leader, Imran Khan, by the government. Despite several PTI leaders being imprisoned, the enthusiasm of Khan’s supporters remains undiminished.
People have traveled from across Pakistan, including the southern provinces of Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan, to participate in the rally. The event in Swabi is intended to send a clear message to the government: the PTI believes the current administration’s days are numbered.
“I stand with Imran Khan as he is our only truthful leader in this country who has been put in jail for one year by the corrupt government. Our struggle will continue until he’s released,” said one passionate supporter.
The rally’s participants draw inspiration from recent events in Bangladesh, where Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed has faced significant opposition and unrest.
“The only purpose of our gathering here in Swabi is to protest for the release of our leader Imran Khan. Look at what happened to Hasina Wajed in Bangladesh. She too suppressed people’s voices, and it’s the same in Pakistan. I think that Shehbaz Sharif will run like her,” said another demonstrator, referencing the Bangladeshi leader’s challenges.
The message from Swabi is loud and clear: the PTI supporters believe that the will of the people will ultimately prevail and that their ongoing struggle will lead to the release of Imran Khan.