Pakistan's opposition urges mass protests for Imran Khan's release

Pakistan's leading opposition party, the Movement for Justice (MJP), has announced a nationwide peaceful campaign on the eve of the country's 77th independence anniversary, demanding the release of its founder and leader, Imran Khan, along with other party members.

The MJP plans to hold a massive rally in the v of Punjab's provincial capital, alongside other large-scale events on August 13, Caliber.Az reports via Pakistani media.

The party is calling for the immediate release of Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi, former Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and other key figures who have been imprisoned for over a year. In their statement, the MJP declared, "The people of Pakistan must break free from the chains of oppression and fight for true independence. The current government is illegitimate and lacks the people's support."

Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister, is under investigation for 12 charges, including terrorism and incitement to violence against the state. Although the Islamabad High Court acquitted him and Qureshi of charges related to divulging state secrets in early June — each facing up to 10 years in prison — they remain in custody due to new allegations of various illegal activities.

Khan served as Pakistan's Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022 until his removal from office on April 10, 2022, following a vote of no confidence. The investigation into alleged state secrets violations began after Khan publicly claimed to have received an encrypted telegram from Pakistan's ambassador in Washington on March 27, 2022. The telegram reportedly indicated that U.S. officials had suggested removing Khan from power due to his pro-Russian stance on Ukraine, as evidenced by his visit to Moscow in February 2022.