Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has unofficially launched its 'Free Imran Khan' movement from Lahore, calling for the release of the imprisoned former Prime Minister. The initiative, which came into motion on Sunday, July 13, 2025, saw police detain several party workers in an effort to prevent them from joining the protest.

This premature movement launch comes just weeks before PTI's planned nationwide campaign on August 5, aiming to pressure the Shehbaz Sharif-led government and military establishment to release Khan. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister and prominent PTI figure, Ali Amin Gandapur, along with other party leaders, arrived in Lahore on Saturday night to kickstart the movement. They gathered at a farmhouse in Raiwind, close to the Sharif family's residence, to finalize the protest plans.

Imran Khan, the 72-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician, has been incarcerated since August 2023, facing charges in multiple cases. The PTI is preparing for a large-scale national protest to demand his freedom and the release of other party leaders, including his wife. Despite PTI’s claims, Punjab police reported no arrests, though sources confirmed that at least 20 PTI workers were detained in Lahore and surrounding areas. Gandapur addressed his supporters, vowing that the movement would succeed, emphasizing that any protest initiated in Lahore has historically gained momentum nationwide.

Gandapur also criticized the military establishment, accusing it of indirectly controlling the country for decades, creating a form of de facto martial law. He expressed confidence that PTI would proceed with their plans despite ongoing legal challenges and pressure. In response, Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bokhari slammed Gandapur and the PTI, calling them “champions of chaos” and claiming that Gandapur should focus on the welfare of his home province, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rather than fueling unrest in Punjab. This informal launch follows a series of delays to the movement, with earlier discussions of an August 5 start after PTI postponed its initial plans.