Imran Khan's supporters rally for his release

ISLAMABAD, Sept 09 (AP): Thousands of supporters of Pakistan's imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan rallied on the outskirts of the capital, Islamabad on Sunday, demanding his release. He has been in prison for more than a year in connection with more than 150 police cases.

Khan, the main rival of current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, remains a popular figure despite these cases, which critics and his party say are politically motivated. He was ousted in 2022 through a no-confidence vote in parliament.

Sunday's rally, one of the biggest this year by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf opposition party, or PTI, was held peacefully, though police briefly clashed with some activists.

Khan's spokesman Zulfi Bukhari denounced the police action against his "peaceful" supporters, in a statement.