Salmán Akram Raja Decides to Discuss Low Turnout at Protest with Imran Khan and Party Leadership

Rawalpindi– Barrister Salmán Akram Raja, General Secretary of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has decided to address the low participation in the recent protest and consult with party founder Imran Khan regarding the matter.
In a media interaction outside Adiala Jail, Raja expressed his concerns about the absence of people at the protest and stated, “I will discuss this within the party and consult with Imran Khan about why people did not attend. If any MNA has a valid reason for not participating in the protest, we understand, but if there’s no valid reason, then they will have to explain their absence.”
He also criticized the ongoing *Tosha Khana II* trial, labeling it unconstitutional and illegal. Raja mentioned that in the *Cipher Case*, family members, media, and lawyers were denied access, despite the High Court ruling twice to annul the trial. He pointed out that the courts had made it clear that such trials should be open to the public, media, and lawyers, and that preventing their access undermined the legitimacy of the proceedings.
Discussing the protest, Raja said, “Yesterday’s protest, though provincial and local in scope, was largely successful. It could have been better, but it was a good attempt, and future protests will improve.” He further added that provincial leadership was informed to organize the protest, and he would consult with Imran Khan regarding the reasons behind the low turnout.
Raja also stated that yesterday’s protest was not the final one and assured that the movement would continue. Regarding negotiations, he said, “The decision for any talks ultimately rests with Imran Khan. In the current situation, negotiations are not possible as long as law enforcement agencies ignore court orders.”
Later, Raja, along with PTI’s lawyer Salman Safdar, addressed the media, focusing on the *Tosha Khana* case, which he described as unique. Raja shared how the court had barred media, family members, and lawyers from entering, causing further concern. He emphasized that PTI would not participate in the trial unless it was conducted transparently and in an open manner, as required by law.
Raja concluded by highlighting the increasing hardships faced by Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, noting that these actions were part of a broader effort to control the judiciary and suppress dissent. He stressed that the situation had deteriorated significantly since the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment.