The next significant milestone in our movement is the 14th of August

USPA NEWS - In these dark days of unprecedented oppression and tyranny, the massive turnout of the Pakistani nation in response to the August 5th call for protest is not only admirable, it is a powerful sign that a new dawn is beginning to break through the long-standing darkness of injustice that has engulfed our country. The way people took to the streets, despite extreme fascism, to assert their constitutional rights is highly commendable.

I extend special appreciation to the people of Punjab, who broke through the shackles of fear despite raids and arrests. The citizens of Sindh, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, who participated in the nationwide protests on August 5th in such large numbers, deserve admiration. A nationwide protest of such magnitude, despite immense pressure on the leadership, is a remarkable display of public awareness and awakening.

Never before in Pakistan’s history has any dictatorship, even under martial law, perpetrated such levels of cruelty as are being carried out today by Asim Munir under his ‘Asim Law’. This can only be compared to the era of Yahya Khan, when brutal fascism was unleashed upon Mujibur Rahman's party and the public, crushing democratic will and, ultimately, splitting the country in two, all for the sake of holding on to power. What is happening in the country today painfully echoes the Fall of Dhaka. Then too, democracy was strangled, rule of law eliminated, freedom of media and the right to protest denied, and the law of the jungle imposed. Deliverance from this system of oppression is only possible if the nation stands united.

The next significant milestone in our movement is the 14th of August: the day our forefathers, after immense sacrifices, secured independence from British colonial rule. Yet, the nation continues to be deprived of true freedom. Without the restoration of the Constitution and the rule of law, independence will remain an illusion. On August 14th, the entire nation must once again rise against the fascism gripping our beloved country.

We must liberate ourselves from this mafia. And true liberation is only possible when a nation is willing to make sacrifices. I am enduring the most inhumane conditions in prison for the sake of my people. Even fellow prisoners here acknowledge that no ordinary inmate is subjected to the kind of treatment that I am being subjected to. In their futile attempt to break me, my wife Bushra Bibi is also being held in deplorable conditions. Yet, I remain steadfast in my commitment to the supremacy of the Constitution and the restoration of democracy. Achieving genuine freedom will require collective sacrifice from all of us.

I will never bow down before this ‘Dacoits and Duffers Alliance’, nor will I ever accept ‘Asim Law’. Even if I must spend the rest of my life in prison, I am ready.

Remember: no force in the world can defeat a brave nation. I urge all Pakistanis to cast aside the fear of imprisonment. A special message to the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI): abandon your fear of jail and rise to lead the people, answering the call of democracy.

The military operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is being conducted solely to weaken PTI. A similar operation was launched during the ANP's tenure, and by adopting Musharraf-era failed policies, ANP was eventually wiped out from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. I have always maintained that military operations are never a solution, they only breed more terrorism, hatred, and destruction. A new operation must not be conducted in the tribal areas. The problems of that region can only be resolved through dialogue with local leaders and elected representatives. The merciless expulsion of Afghan refugees, merely in anticipation of a reaction from Afghanistan that never came, is deeply regrettable.
Now, in the absence of any foreign reaction, an unfortunate attempt is being made to turn our guns upon our own people and further destabilize the situation.

Once again, I make it unequivocally clear: no one must contest elections on the seats of assembly members who have been unjustly disqualified. These individuals stood by PTI through thick and thin, never abandoning the party. Therefore, these seats rightfully belong to them. Participating in by-elections would amount to legitimizing an illegal act. Contesting these elections would be akin to stabbing our loyal members in the back. I also extend my congratulations to all participants and organizers, especially office bearers of Tehreek Tahafuz Ayin-e-Pakistan (Movement for the Protection of the Constitution) on the successful convening of the All Parties Conference, the initiation of a national dialogue, and the presentation of consensus proposals on addressing key national issues." Statement by Former Prime Minister Imran Khan during a conversation with family, lawyers, and media in Adiala Jail - August 6, 2025