Supporters of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who heads Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), held protests in the US, the United Kingdom, and Canada, demanding an immediate release of the cricketer-turned-politician who was arrested in the ‘Toshakhana’ case over the weekend.
The PTI has said that Khan’s arrest marked a “black day” in Pakistan’s history.
Although authorities in Pakistan's Punjab province imposed restrictions on gatherings in an apparent bid to check protests by Khan's supporters, PTI supporters held demonstrations in other provinces, including in the port city of Karachi, according to a video shared by PTI.
Meanwhile, in a major boost to Khan’s popularity, PTI announced on Sunday that its candidate has won the post of mayor in the election held in Peshawar by a landslide victory.
PTI Concerns Over Khan’s Life in Jail
Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the vice-chairperson of PTI, and former foreign minister, expressed concerns over the safety of Khan in jail.
Qureshi chaired a meeting of PTI on Sunday evening, releasing a message on social media once it was concluded.
He said that there was a “threat” to Khan’s life in prison.
Although the court order said that he should have been taken to Adiala prison, the ex-PM has been lodged in Attock prison, Qureshi claimed.
“The prison in Attock doesn’t have good facilities. It is a C-class prison and an ex-PM shouldn’t have been lodged there. We have come to know that he is lodged in a jail which is just 9*11 feet in size", he said.
Qureshi said that Khan’s lawyers have been denied permission to meet him in prison.
He further reiterated calls for an “immediate release” of Khan.
Meanwhile, Khan’s lawyer Naeem Khan Panjutha has said that he has lodged a court appeal to get access to Khan to enquire about his well-being in jail.