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Less than two weeks after his “final call” protest in Islamabad was forcefully dispersed, former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has pledged to continue his fight, threatening to launch a nationwide civil disobedience movement.
In a message posted on X, Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023 on numerous charges, announced the formation of a five-member negotiation team.
The team aims to discuss two key demands with the government: the release of under-trial prisoners and the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the events of May 9, 2023, and November 26, 2024 – two dates on which Khan’s supporters held major protests but faced a backlash from the government and security forces.
“If these two demands are not accepted, a civil disobedience movement will begin on December 14. The government will bear full responsibility for the consequences,” Khan’s post in Urdu read.
“As part of the movement, we will urge overseas Pakistanis to limit remittances and start a boycott campaign. In the second phase, we will escalate our actions further.
The announcement comes as Khan was indicted for his involvement in an attack on military headquarters on May 9 last year, while he was also slapped with charges of “terrorism” for his role in protests that besieged the federal capital last month.
Khan’s call for protests in Islamabad mobilized thousands of supporters, primarily from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province governed by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party.
