ISLAMABAD — A court in the Pakistani capital has prohibited the political party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan from conducting a planned rally on Sunday, coinciding with an upcoming official visit from the president of Belarus.
This decision, issued on Thursday, represents a significant blow to Khan’s supporters, who had organized a large rally to coincide with the three-day visit of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, scheduled to commence on Monday. The purpose of this rally was to advocate for Khan’s release, although it remains unclear if Khan’s party will now retract its plans for the protest.
The court instructed authorities to inform Khan’s party of the situation’s sensitivity due to the preparations necessary for President Lukashenko’s reception. The Belarusian leader is set to arrive in the capital with a sizable delegation of 60 members on Monday. Furthermore, the court has mandated that the government should prohibit any form of rallies or sit-ins in Islamabad for that day.
For security reasons, Pakistani authorities have already enforced a ban on public rallies in the city for the past two months. The government has affirmed its commitment to maintaining this ban, ensuring that no one, including Khan’s supporters, will be allowed to contravene these regulations.
Imran Khan was removed from office in 2022 through a no-confidence vote held in Parliament. He has since spent more than a year in prison following his initial conviction in a corruption case.
The ruling issued on Thursday followed closely after another court had granted Khan bail, yet due to an array of other charges remaining against him, he will continue to remain in custody. Khan is currently facing more than 150 legal cases, with several convictions, including sentences of three years, ten years, 14 years, and seven years, all to be served concurrently under the laws of Pakistan. Although some of these convictions have been overturned upon appeal, he is unable to secure his release because of ongoing charges pending against him.