Imran Khan marks three years in detention as protests erupt

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan marked three years in detention on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, as thousands of his supporters demonstrated across the country and international human rights organizations condemned his treatment. The 73-year-old opposition leader remains imprisoned on multiple convictions while his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), organized nationwide protests demanding his immediate release.

Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 until his removal by a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022, was first arrested in May 2023. His current period of continuous detention began on August 5, 2023, following his arrest on corruption and state secrets charges, which he has consistently rejected as politically motivated. He is currently serving a 14-year sentence for corruption, while his wife, Bushra Bibi, was sentenced to seven years in the same case. In December 2025, the couple received an additional 17-year sentence in a separate case involving state gifts.

On the anniversary, PTI members held rallies in several cities amid heavy security. The party stated the struggle for democracy and constitutional rule continues despite arbitrary...