ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has confirmed that it will avoid any confrontation or unrest on February 8, the first anniversary of last year’s general elections.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja stated in Islamabad that the party would only hold a rally in Swabi, with protests taking place at the tehsil and union council levels. He emphasized that the party had no intentions of inciting chaos or confrontation.
Previously, PTI had sought permission to hold a rally at Minar-e-Pakistan, but the request was denied by the deputy commissioner due to concerns over maintaining law and order, citing several significant events scheduled in Lahore on the same day, including a cricket match, an international speaker conference, and a horse and cattle show. The official noted that additional security personnel had already been deployed for these events.
Ahead of PTI’s rally in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, government officials and police personnel have been barred from participating in political rallies, with instructions for the provincial police to refrain from attending or facilitating such events. In response to the political climate, KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur announced a full-scale protest on the occasion of “Black Day,” pledging to secure the release of PTI founder Imran Khan.
The former ruling party, dissatisfied with the outcome of its negotiations with the government, has consistently criticized the 2024 polls, alleging they were marred by rigging and resulting in the theft of PTI's mandate. PTI halted negotiations after the government failed to form a judicial commission to investigate the May 9 riots and November 2024 protests, which were part of PTI’s demands.
Since the breakdown of talks, PTI has increasingly resorted to street protests, with demonstrations last year in Islamabad resulting in a crackdown on party workers and multiple legal cases against leaders. PTI KP President Junaid Akbar warned that the party’s desire to engage in dialogue was being misinterpreted as weakness.
