On August 5, 2025, widespread protests erupted across major cities in Pakistan following the second anniversary of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s arrest. Thousands of supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party defied government bans on public gatherings and took to the streets demanding his release and the restoration of what they call “true democracy.” The demonstrations quickly escalated into confrontations with police, resulting in the arrest of more than 240 protesters nationwide.

The largest crackdowns occurred in Lahore, the capital of Punjab province, where over 200 PTI activists were detained amid tear gas deployments and baton charges to disperse crowds attempting to block roads and disrupt public order. Smaller but significant protests also took place in Karachi, Muzaffarabad, Rawalpindi, and other urban centers, where police similarly responded with force. According to PTI spokesperson Zulfikar Bukhari, “We had planned peaceful protests to demand the release of Imran Khan, but the government imposed bans, blocked highways, and arrested hundreds of our supporters.” He confirmed that dozens of activists, including senior party members such as 73-year-old Rehana Dar, were forcibly taken into custody during the raids.

Imran Khan, a former cricket star who served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 until his ouster via a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022, has been held in custody since August 2023. He faces multiple convictions—including charges of corruption, terrorism, and unauthorized disclosure of official secrets—that his party and allies claim are politically motivated attempts to sideline him. Khan himself called on supporters via a message on the PTI’s official social media to “come and hold protests until true democracy is restored,” fueling the nationwide mobilization.

The protests come after a turbulent political environment marked by violent unrest in 2023, when demonstrations following Khan’s initial arrest led to deadly clashes and attacks on military installations. Since then, the government has imposed strict restrictions on assembly and maintained a heavy security presence around key political figures and locations.

Eyewitness accounts describe scenes of large convoys of motorcycles, rickshaws, and vehicles adorned with party flags parading through city streets chanting slogans such as “Free Imran Khan!” Police in Karachi were seen firing tear gas to break up such rallies, while in Lahore aggressive law enforcement tactics led to multiple arrests. Observers note the high level of organization among PTI protesters despite the bans and the state’s attempts to suppress opposition voices.

Political analysts view the ongoing unrest as symptomatic of Pakistan’s deepening political crisis, where judicial proceedings against opposition leaders intertwine with street-level resistance and public dissatisfaction. The government under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif blames Khan and PTI for inciting instability, while Khan’s supporters frame their struggle as a fight against authoritarianism and for electoral justice.

In summary, the protests marking the second anniversary of Imran Khan’s arrest underscore persistent tensions in Pakistan’s political landscape. Thousands of citizens risked arrest, facing harsh police responses, to demand the release of their leader and democratic reforms. Moving forward, the situation demands careful political dialogue, respect for civil liberties, and transparent legal processes to defuse volatility and restore public trust.