KARACHI: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh on Thursday announced that the party would observe Aug 5 as a ‘Black Day’ and stage peaceful protests outside the Karachi Press Club and district and divisional press clubs across Sindh to mark three years since the incarceration of former prime minister Imran Khan.
Addressing a press conference at Insaf House in Karachi, Sheikh said the nationwide protest campaign would be held to demand Imran Khan’s release and to raise what he described as concerns over constitutional rights, democracy and the public mandate.
The press conference was attended by PTI central leader Aftab Jahangir, PTI Karachi President Raja Azhar, Karachi General Secretary Arslan Khalid, Muhammad Ali Baloch, Fauzia Siddiqui, Farrukh Jameel Khan, Agha Arsalan, Sareena Khan, Zulfiqar Ali Mallah, Moazzam Khan, Naveed Alam Siddiqui, Advocate Arshad and other party leaders.
Sheikh said Aug 5 remained a significant date in Pakistan’s political history, alleging that Imran Khan had been imprisoned for raising his voice for national sovereignty and the rights of the people. He credited the former prime minister with advocating against Islamophobia at the United Nations, opposing drone strikes through his “Absolutely Not” policy, launching the Ehsaas Programme and the Sehat Card, initiating dam and university projects and pursuing policies aimed at strengthening the economy.
He said Imran Khan continued to enjoy widespread public support and urged citizens to participate in the Aug 5 demonstrations at the Karachi Press Club and across Sindh in support of his release and what the party described as the restoration of constitutional and democratic norms.
Sheikh described the growing number of missing and abducted children in Sindh as one of the province”s gravest humanitarian crises, blaming the provincial government for failing to protect vulnerable citizens.
He alleged that Priya Kumari, abducted in 2021, had yet to be recovered. He also referred to several other missing children, including Ali Asghar Mangrio (missing since 2015), Fatima Taniyo (2023), Sonia Khoso (2025), Majid Ali Lashari, Asifa Mughal, Ajala Parveen Solangi, Saba Kalhoro, Tayyab Jogi, Khushi Mehr, Muskan Sheikh, Wakeelan Sheikh, Zainab and Fiza Memon, Sohana, Momin Ali Langah, Safeer Memon , Haider Ali and others, claiming that dozens of families continued to await justice.
He further alleged that a list of more than 25 abducted children had been submitted to the police, while FIRs in at least eight cases had yet to be registered.
Condemning the police action against the 11-day sit-in staged by the families of missing children in Babarlo, Haleem Adil Sheikh alleged that protesters were subjected to violence during a late-night operation, women and elderly participants were harassed, journalists had their mobile phones confiscated and several protesters, including Liaquat Jalbani and Sohni Paras, were arrested.
He said PTI Sindh stood with the families of the abducted children and would continue its campaign until every missing child, including Priya Kumari, was safely recovered. He demanded impartial action against those involved in kidnappings and called for the immediate recovery of all missing children.
The PTI Sindh president also criticised the province”s law and order situation, claiming that although Rs222 billion had been allocated for law and order in the current financial year and around Rs2.2 trillion had been spent over the past 18 years, incidents of robbery, murder, kidnapping and street crime continued to rise.
Referring to recent incidents, including the killing of Dr Akash during a robbery in Karachi and the murder of Bhiro Kolhi near Khipro in Sanghar district, he claimed that 43 citizens had been killed in Karachi during robbery resistance incidents in the first seven months of the year. He alleged that the police were being used for political purposes instead of ensuring public safety.
Sheikh also criticised repeated increases in petroleum prices, saying the hikes had placed an unbearable burden on the public. He claimed that more than Rs125 per litre is being collected in taxes and levies on petrol and diesel, and demanded the abolition of the petroleum levy to provide relief to consumers.
PTI Karachi President Raja Azhar said the party would hold a massive public gathering on Aug 5 if permission was granted by the authorities. He challenged the Sindh government to allow the rally, saying the public would demonstrate the party”s support in Karachi.
PTI Karachi General Secretary Arslan Khalid said Aug 5 would mark three years since what he termed the “unjust imprisonment” of Imran Khan. He urged students, youth, workers and citizens to gather peacefully at the Karachi Press Club at pm on Aug 5.
PTI Karachi Division Vice-President Agha Arsalan said Sindh is facing an acute water shortage, claiming that agricultural water availability had declined by more than 50 per cent. He alleged that water allocated to Sindh was being diverted elsewhere and criticised the opening of the Jalalpur Canal. He also claimed that water supplies to canals in upper Sindh had remained suspended for ten days, warning that continued shortages could damage the rice crop.
Former PTI Sindh Women Wing President Sareena Khan said rising incidents of kidnappings, violence against women and so-called honour crimes reflected the provincial government”s failure to protect women. She also expressed support for the ongoing protests by Lady Health Workers, criticising the reported 75pc reduction in the programme”s operational budget. She called for the restoration of funding, rejection of any privatisation or outsourcing plans and acceptance of the workers” demands.
Concluding the press conference, the PTI Sindh leadership reiterated that Aug 5 would be observed as a province-wide Black Day, with peaceful demonstrations across Sindh demanding the release of Imran Khan, improved law and order, the recovery of abducted children, protection of Sindh”s water rights, relief from inflation and the protection of citizens” constitutional rights.