TTAP announces nationwide protests on Friday over inflation, fuel prices

The opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) on Tuesday announced nationwide protests on Friday against rising inflation, higher fuel prices, alleged lawlessness, and the continued detention of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan.

According to a post shared on X by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mahmood Khan Achakzai, the decision was taken during a leadership summit of the alliance. TTAP said the demonstrations would also demand the immediate transfer of Imran Khan to hospital and the release of political prisoners.

Speaking separately outside NA on Tuesday, senior PTI leader Asad Qaiser said the party and the wider public were deeply concerned about the health of former prime minister Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi. He said the parliamentary party had unanimously endorsed decisions taken at the previous day’s TTAP leadership summit.

Qaiser also said nationwide protests would be held on Friday against inflation, rising petroleum prices, and concerns over the health of Imran and Bushra Bibi. The demonstrations would also demand their transfer to hospital, the release of political prisoners, and the restoration of fundamental rights, he reiterated.

“If Imran Khan’s cases are heard on merit, he would not remain in jail for even a moment,” he said, adding that terrorism had increased due to government policies and that ties with Afghanistan had been affected.

He also demanded the immediate transfer of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi to hospital in line with jail rules, permission for meetings, withdrawal of the petroleum levy, an end to electricity and gas load-shedding, and the lifting of restrictions on wheat and flour transportation.

Qaiser further warned that if opposition members were not allowed to function freely in Parliament, they would not allow the assembly proceedings to continue smoothly. Criticising the government’s economic policies, he added that the upcoming budget would be “anti-poor” due to expected new taxes.

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In February, it was revealed in a report prepared by Barrister Salman Safdar on the Supreme Court’s direction that Imran had informed officials that his right eye was functioning at only 15% capacity. Safdar submitted the report to a two-member bench.

As a result, the SC ordered that Imran be granted access to his personal physicians in Adiala Jail. Later, a medical board examining Imran reported an improvement in his eyesight and did not recommend shifting him to a hospital.

In late January, Imran was first taken to the hospital for a minor eye procedure. Five days later, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that doctors at PIMS had conducted an examination of his eyes and, after obtaining his written consent, carried out a minor medical procedure that lasted around 20 minutes.

Amid controversy surrounding the eye treatment, PIMS confirmed that Imran was administered an anti-VEGF intra-vitreal injection to treat right central retinal vein occlusion.

In March, another medical check-up was conducted at Adiala, after which PIMS stated that Imran had shown significant improvement in his vision following his second dose of an intravitreal anti-VEGF injection. The third dose was subsequently administered on March 23.

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Imran’s wife, Bushra Bibi, also underwent a medical examination at Adiala in March after complaining of pain in her right eye. She was reportedly examined by Dr Muhammad Arif Khan, head of the ophthalmology department at PIMS.

The medical report stated that she had been experiencing blurred vision and black spots in her right eye; she also reported seeing flashes in the dark and said she was suffering from headaches. The examination diagnosed Bushra Bibi with posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) in her right eye.

The report also identified myopia and astigmatism. After the diagnosis, Bushra Bibi was prescribed eye drops and medication, along with the use of glasses. She was reportedly recommended a follow-up medical check-up after four weeks.

The former first lady then underwent eye surgery on the evening of April 16.

Imran and Bushra Bibi remain incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail. They were sentenced on December 20, 2025, to 17 years in prison in the Toshakhana-II case, which pertains to allegations that the couple unlawfully retained a Bulgari jewellery set gifted by the Saudi crown prince during an official visit to Saudi Arabia.

Imran has been in custody since August 2023, serving a sentence in a £190 million corruption case. He also faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act in connection with protests on May 9, 2023.