PTI restarts K-P House protest after reviewing Imran’s health report

ISLAMABAD:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) resumed its sit-in outside Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) House on Monday following a parliamentary party meeting after initially bringing it to an end.

The PTI K-P Parliamentary Party meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, reviewed the strategy regarding the ongoing sit-in and consultations took place on party founder Imran Khan’s health report that was received on Sunday, sources confirmed speaking to The Express Tribune.

Former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur and other PTI members participated in the meeting, following which party members once again sat on the road and began chanting slogans, with around 90 parliamentarians present at the site.

CM Afridi directed that the sit-in would continue until Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai announced its end, according to the sources.

Earlier in the day, the sit-in appeared to have concluded, with Afridi and Gandapur leaving the protest site. The adjoining roads were briefly reopened for traffic. The sit-in by PTI members of the National Assembly and senators at Parliament Lodges had also ended.

Read: Opposition sit-in enters third day over Imran Khan’s medical care

However, the sit-in by opposition MNAs at Parliament House continued, with Achakzai, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Allama Nasir Abbas, former NA speaker Asad Qaiser and PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja still present at the scene.

Speaking to the media, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said Achakzai would announce the end of the sit-in. “We are waiting for the founder’s medical report,” he said, adding that whatever the report contained would be presented publicly.

Supporters of PTI also held a protest at GPO Chowk, outside the Lahore High Court, chanting slogans loudly and demanding Imran’s release. The demonstration saw the participation of PTI MPA Imtiaz Mahmood Sheikh, the party’s Information Secretary Faiza Murad, along with a large number of lawyers and party workers.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry rejected the opposition’s claims that its members were denied food and water during their protest, calling the allegations misleading and stating “on record” that lawmakers had access to meals multiple times.

He criticised opposition members for what he termed misuse of parliamentary space, alleging that non-parliamentarians and even armed individuals were brought into Parliament Lodges, where families reside.

On security arrangements ahead of Ramazan, he said standard operating procedures were already in place and had been further strengthened following recent incidents.

Police register case against PTI leaders

Separately, Islamabad Police registered a case against multiple PTI MNAs and MPAs, along with other leaders, over rioting in the Red Zone.

The case was registered at Secretariat Police Station for violation of Section 144, which pertains to prohibitory orders and bans gatherings, and the PAPO Act 2024, which is the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act. Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), which prescribes punishment for acts of terrorism, has also been included in the FIR. The case includes sections 506/114/427/188/186/149/148/395/353/324/ and Amplifier Act Sec 3/4/PAPO Act 2024 Sec 8/7.

According to the first information report (FIR), the gunmen of assembly members opened direct fire at police. Assembly members also tore the uniforms of police personnel and damaged a government vehicle, the FIR states. PTI parliamentarians and workers were accused of chanting slogans, blocking roads, interfering in official affairs and scuffling with officials.

The incident occurred at Ataturk Avenue Link Road behind Parliament Lodges. Despite the ban on gatherings in the Red Zone, the accused advanced forward, police said.

Parliamentarians, along with 50 to 55 other office-bearers and workers, were nominated in the case, including include MNAs Iqbal Afridi and Shafqat Mian, along with former MNA Malik Umar Aslam, MPAs Malik Hassan, Saraye Ahsan Raza, Muhammad Akram, Asad Zaman Cheema, Hassan Niazi, Mian Mad Sharar Shad, Umar Farooq, Masir Wasi Qatir, Syed Riffat Shah, Ghiyab Rashid, and Muhammad Sarfraz Ahmad Adgar.

Two suspects were arrested from the spot, while several others fled, the FIR said. It said the police had initiated investigation into the case, and further arrests were likely.

The ongoing sit-ins are linked to concerns over Imran’s health. On Sunday, a five-member team of specialist doctors conducted a detailed medical examination at Adiala jail in Rawalpindi. No PTI leaders were present despite a government offer to allow them to witness the check-up.

Jail Superintendent Sajid Baig said a team of specialists visited the jail with medical equipment, medicines and other supplies to conduct Imran’s eye examination. The check-up was carried out under the supervision of a two-member medical board, he said.

The opposition lawmakers’ demonstration began on Friday and has continued despite government assurances. Monday marked the fourth day of leaders conducting sit-ins outside Parliament House and K-P House, demanding Imran be provided urgent medical treatment for his eye condition.

Lawmakers, led by Achakzai and Abbas, have vowed the sit-in would not end until Imran is shifted for specialist care. Protesters have cited reports claiming his right-eye vision has deteriorated significantly and have demanded treatment in the presence of his family and personal physicians.

Read More: PTI protesters block K-P highways over IK’s health

Meanwhile, the supply of essential commodities has been disrupted as PTI workers have blocked major highways linking K-P with Punjab over the past four days. This has sparked concerns over shortages as Ramazan approaches.

The Peshawar Motorway remained closed for a third day from the Mardan Rashakai Interchange, while the motorway at Swabi was also shut due to protests, a Motorway Police spokesperson said. However, the Peshawar–Charsadda Motorway remained open, with traffic allowed from the Chach and Ghazi interchanges.

The sit-ins have also targeted key routes, including GT Road at Attock Bridge, Khushalgarh in Kohat and roads in Dera Ismail Khan leading to Punjab. The blockades have effectively isolated K-P from Punjab, a major source of goods such as flour, rice and pulses.