‘Jam every road and street of Pakistan’: PTI announces nationwide shutdown after Imran Khan sentenced

PTI mobilises for nationwide shutdown, threatens street agitation after Khan sentencing

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday announced a nationwide shutdown and coordinated street agitation demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, following his and his wife Bushra Bibi’s sentencing to 17 years in prison each by a Pakistan accountability court in the Toshakhana-2 corruption case, CNN-News18 reported.

The party issued mobilisation orders across provinces ahead of synchronised protests, framing the movement as a final constitutional push to free Khan, who has been held in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail since August 2023 amid multiple legal cases. His continued incarceration has kept political tensions high across the country.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, addressing party workers, said the agitation was being launched on direct instructions from Khan. “We have clear directions from Imran Khan. Enough is enough; now it’s time to hit the streets," he said, adding that PTI was finalising plans for a full-scale street movement.

“We are ready for a street movement for justice," Gandapur continued, warning that the party would “jam every road and street of Pakistan" if its demands were not met. He claimed workers were “desperately waiting" for mass mobilisation and stressed that the time had come to intensify pressure for Khan’s release.

PTI leader Sohail Afridi echoed the sentiment, saying the party was preparing for sustained protests and would not back down until “decisive political outcomes" were achieved. Workers have reportedly been instructed to remain on the streets as part of a long-term strategy.

Top intelligence sources noted that Khan’s sentencing and detention have galvanised PTI cadres nationwide, prompting preparations for protests in multiple cities. The leadership aims to push for what it describes as “institutional accountability" through public pressure.

The announcement comes amid heightened political uncertainty in Pakistan, with authorities bracing for possible disruptions to transport and daily life if the shutdown call is widely observed. No immediate response from the government or security agencies was available.