Overview
- Supporters of Imran Khan staged protests across Pakistan on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, and police detained dozens to more than 100 people as demonstrations in cities including Peshawar, Lahore and Karachi were dispersed.
- Amnesty International and UN experts renewed criticism of Khan’s detention, saying he has faced prolonged solitary confinement and restricted access to lawyers, family visits and adequate medical care.
- Khan’s health has been a focal issue after a diagnosis of central retinal vein occlusion in his right eye; he received multiple injections at a government hospital and a Supreme Court petition seeking transfer to private care remains pending.
- Legally, Khan is serving sentences including a 14-year conviction and a December 20, 2025, 17-year verdict in the Toshakhana state‑gifts case, and he and his wife continue to pursue appeals and other pending trials.
- The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has set demands for unrestricted meetings, access to personal doctors and faster hearings and has announced a potential march on Islamabad on September 27 if those demands are not met, a move that could further escalate political tensions.