Non-release of founder: PTI set to launch agitation in Hazara today

MANSEHRA: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is set to launch a street agitation in Hazara division today (Wednesday) to demand the release of the party’s founding chairman Imran Khan.

“We are going to hold a rally in Mansehra to kick off protest demonstrations across the Hazara division for the release of former prime minister Imran Khan,” PTI’s provincial deputy president Kamal Saleem Swati told reporters.

He said the decision was taken during a meeting held earlier this week in Abbottabad, chaired by Hazara division president MNA Ali Khan Jadoon.“The meeting, attended by lawmakers from the Hazara division, decided to begin a protest movement to pressure the government to release Imran Khan, who is in jail despite not committing any crime,” Swati said.

He added that rallies followed by a workers’ convention would be held in Mansehra on Thursday Swati said that similar protest rallies and conventions would also be organised in Abbottabad and Battagram districts on April 11.

“We will also present certificates of appreciation to party workers and leaders arrested on November 26 across the Hazara division,” Swati added.He said the release of the party’s founding chairman, Imran Khan, was the sole agenda of the movement in the region.

“Our leader is innocent and has done nothing wrong. He has been arrested on trumped-up charges, but we are confident he will be released soon,” he said.The PTI’s provincial deputy president said that workers and leaders were united behind their jailed founding chairman and would continue their peaceful struggle for his release.