On Sunday, November 24, 2024, Pakistan experienced significant political unrest as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, organized nationwide protests. Dubbed a “final call to action,” the demonstration aimed to oppose alleged electoral fraud, the arrests of party workers, and judicial reforms that PTI claims threaten democratic institutions.
Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated since earlier this year, has accused the ruling coalition of gaining power through a manipulated electoral process. He urged Pakistanis to “break the shackles of slavery” and reclaim their rights as a “living nation.” However, the protest has ignited a heated debate, with government officials labeling it a tactic to negotiate Khan’s release and to halt legal proceedings against PTI leaders.
The PTI’s November 24 protest underscores the volatile state of Pakistan’s political environment. While the party calls it a struggle for justice and democracy, critics argue that it risks further polarizing an already fragile nation. As both sides dig in their heels, the need for dialogue and compromise has never been more urgent to prevent further unrest.
Imran Khan, the former Prime Minister, issued an appeal from jail on his social media account X, formerly known as Twitter, urging his supporters and the public to participate in the call.
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s media talk at Adiala Jail:
(November 21, 2024)
We will protest on Sunday, November 24th, under any circumstances.
Pakistan has been made into a banana republic. Democracy, the constitution, and the rule of law have all been annihilated from…
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 22, 2024
This event marks another chapter in Pakistan’s turbulent political history, as citizens and leaders grapple with defining the nation’s democratic future.
Pakistan: The Role of Army in Political Process.
The protest has significantly disrupted daily life in cities like Islamabad, where authorities enforced strict security measures, including roadblocks and the closure of schools. While PTI maintained that its demonstrations were peaceful, clashes between police and protesters in Quetta and other cities led to injuries and arrests. Federal officials have vowed to crack down on lawbreakers, describing the protests as part of a broader campaign to destabilize the government.
Thousands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters march towards the capital Islamabad, demanding the release of jailed former PM Imran Khan. PTI leader Sanam Javaid Khan shared an update on her convoy’s location in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
آج کے سفر کا آغاز ✌️ pic.twitter.com/wXdYlRZSt8
— Sanam Javaid Khan (@sanamkh22) November 25, 2024
A convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, departed from Peshawar on Sunday with the goal of reaching Islamabad, despite facing challenges. Highways have been blocked with shipping containers, and Section 144—a colonial-era law that prohibits public gatherings—has been enforced as authorities attempt to prevent the march. Imran Khan supporters marching to Pakistan’s capital Islamabad
On November 14, 2024, in a Special Message for Students and the Youth from Former Prime Minister Imran Khan said,
“Thousands of our young people have to leave the country and go abroad to find employment. But how many of our youth can go abroad? Not everyone can get a visa nor does everyone have the resources to do so. There is no democracy in our country anymore. There is no rule of law. The judiciary has been taken over. If you want your rights, a bright future, and genuine freedom, you have no choice but to stand up against this bogus system. All young people, especially students should come out for their rights with us on November 24 because the future of the youth in Pakistan is now in grave danger.
Imran Khan’s sisters, Aleema Khan & Uzma Khan have reached Islamabad, where hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis are converging to demand release of political prisoners, restoration of stolen mandate, upholding of the law & constitution
Imran Khan’s sisters, Aleema Khan & Uzma Khan have reached Islamabad, where hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis are converging to demand release of political prisoners, restoration of stolen mandate, upholding of the law & constitution, and an end to the fascist reign of terror… pic.twitter.com/NlYJDLjBJc
— PTI (@PTIofficial) November 25, 2024
My instructions for the young leaders of Insaf Students Federation and Insaf Youth Wing are to work on growing membership in colleges and universities in their respective regions, and to mobilize students and our youth for a movement for the genuine freedom of Pakistanis.”
Imran Khan is the most popular leader in Pakistan and posed considerable challenges for the two big political families i.e. Sharifs and Bhutto’s once bitter rivals of each other. Imran Khan’s popularity is way ahead of all other politicians.
