Calgary Pakistani Community to Hold September 27 Protest in Support of Imran Khan

CALGARY: A protest calling for justice, democracy, human rights and the release of former Pakistan prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan will be held in Calgary on Sunday, September 27, 2026.

The protest is being organized by Imtiaz Ahmed, an ordinary PTI member and Pakistani Canadian community activist, who said he decided to arrange the gathering because of what he described as the continuing restrictions on Imran Khan’s rights while he remains imprisoned in Pakistan.

Speaking in a special conversation with BWtimes, Ahmed said the current situation requires Pakistanis living around the world to raise their voices peacefully.

“This time Imran Khan needs the support of all Pakistanis all over the world because he is in jail and is not compromising on the rights of the people of Pakistan,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed added that he is not presenting himself as a senior PTI leader or office-holder.

“I am an ordinary PTI member and I am with Imran Khan. That is why I arranged the September 27 protest.”

According to Ahmed, the Calgary gathering will provide members of the Pakistani community with an opportunity to express their concerns about democracy, justice, political rights and the treatment of Imran Khan and other political prisoners.

Concerns over Imran Khan’s detention

Imran Khan has been imprisoned since 2023 and remains in Adiala Jail. Amnesty International reported in August that he had faced prolonged restrictions on family and lawyer visits, medical care and other rights, while noting that Khan is currently serving prison sentences in corruption and state-gifts cases. Amnesty has also cited earlier findings by UN bodies concerning his detention.

Khan’s treatment in custody has remained a major issue for his family and supporters. In August, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered that he be moved to a private hospital for medical assessment and treatment following concerns about his health. The government subsequently challenged that order.

More recently, concerns about access to Khan have continued. Dawn reported on September 22 that his cousin Qasim Zaman went to Adiala Jail seeking a meeting but was not permitted to see him, despite an Islamabad High Court order allowing meetings with family members, lawyers and associates.

Amnesty International has also said that Khan’s family and PTI activists have faced detentions ahead of the September 27 protest movement. The organization called for respect for freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

Detention of Imran Khan’s sisters

The political tension has intensified in the days leading up to September 27.

Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan was detained on September 20, followed by the detention of his sisters Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, according to reports from Reuters and Al Jazeera. The detentions were made under Pakistan’s Maintenance of Public Order law.

Amnesty International said the arrests came ahead of PTI’s planned September 27 march and described the detention of family members and party activists as a serious human-rights concern.

The Pakistani government, meanwhile, has said it intends to prevent the planned march from disrupting public order. The government and PTI remain sharply divided over the legality and nature of the planned demonstrations.

Ahmed calls for peaceful participation

Imtiaz Ahmed said the Calgary protest is intended to remain a peaceful community gathering.

He said the message he wants to send from Calgary is that Pakistanis living abroad continue to follow developments in Pakistan and remain concerned about democratic rights and the rule of law.

The September 27 event is being promoted under the message “Free Imran Khan, Free Pakistan”, with the additional themes of justice, peace, democracy and freedom.

The event will take place at:

Prairie Wind Park
233 CastleRidge Boulevard
Northeast Calgary
Sunday, September 27, 2026
3:00 p.m.

Ahmed said the protest is open to members of the Pakistani community and others who wish to peacefully express their views.

He stressed that his involvement comes from his position as an ordinary PTI supporter who believes that Pakistan’s political future should include democratic participation and respect for fundamental rights.

As demonstrations and political tensions continue in Pakistan ahead of September 27, the Calgary gathering is expected to provide overseas Pakistanis with an opportunity to publicly express their concerns regarding Imran Khan’s imprisonment and the broader political situation in Pakistan.