Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday announced a nationwide shutter-down strike and wheel-jam protest for February 8, which the party will observe as a “Black Day” to protest what it describes as the theft of the public mandate.
The call to action was issued by PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh, who condemned the continued detention of the party’s founder, Imran Khan, as a “blatant assault” on the Constitution and human rights.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Sheikh alleged that Khan has been held for over 910 days in illegal solitary confinement, subjected to mental torture, and denied basic facilities in a clear violation of court orders and international laws.
He voiced serious concern over what he termed “state oppression”, citing the secrecy surrounding Khan’s health, restricted access for family members and personal doctors, and a general lack of transparency from jail authorities.
Sheikh also criticised the provincial administration, alleging that the unjustified arrests of PTI workers across Sindh, raids on their residences, and the harassment of their families exposed the “fascist nature of governance”.
He specified that the detention of more than 180 peaceful PTI leaders and workers from Karachi under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO-3) law was not democracy but “open authoritarianism” intended to suppress the public voice.
Expanding on national issues, the PTI Sindh president attributed rising lawlessness and terrorism, including incidents in Balochistan, to the “failed policies” of the current rulers.
Sheikh asserted that the government’s focus on targeting political opponents rather than addressing public issues revealed its misplaced priorities, and affirmed that PTI would not retreat from its struggle for constitutional rights.
He appealed to all segments of society in Sindh, including traders, lawyers, and students, to fully participate in the protest to safeguard democracy and the right to vote.
Sheikh concluded with a warning, stating that Imran Khan is a “red line for millions of Pakistanis” and that the rulers who came to power via a “fake mandate” would be held squarely responsible for any harm caused to him.