'Release Imran Khan': Who Planned Aerial 'Campaign' During IND Vs PAK T20 Match

New Delhi: Amid the power-pack T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan in New York on Sunday, an aircraft with a banner in support of former Pakistan PM Imran Khan was seen flying above the Nassau County Cricket Stadium.

As the plane soared high in the sky, the banner with the message “Release Imran Khan” caught the attention of the public.

Urging the release of Imran Khan, the banner was prominently put on display as the aircraft circled the stadium.

The Nassau stadium in New York is one of the three venues in the USA hosting matches for the much-anticipated Group A fixture of the T20 World Cup 2024 between the two countries. The US is co-hosting the ongoing tournament along with the West Indies.

The video has been widely shared on social media platforms. It displayed the pro-Imran message during a pause in the match due to rain.

Later in a post on X, former Pakistan’s premier’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), also shared an image of the flying poster, reiterating the same message demanding the former’s release. “Release Imran Khan,” the PTI wrote.

Planned Overseas Pro-Imran Protest?

Later a man identified as Ghaazi Khan posted on X that he was a part of the planned ‘Aerial Messaging campaign’ in support of Imran Khan. He expressed his solidarity with Imran and thanked his team members.

Ghaazi Khan, who goes by the username @junaidkj, tweeted, “It was an honor to work on the Aerial Messaging campaign #ReleaseImranKhan during the India vs. Pakistan cricket match. The ideology of @ImranKhanPTI cannot be suppressed or forgotten. Overseas Pakistanis stand with Imran Khan and always will. Thanks to @MalikUs64816178, @FirstPakGlobal, @akhan4pakistan, and Zeeshan from New Jersey for their ownership and collaboration on this amazing idea to display our love for pakistan and Imran Khan(sic)”

Ghaazi’s post depicted that it was a protest by overseas Pakistanis against Imran’s arrest. Ghaazi who identifies himself as a Cyber Security Professional also posted images from the pilot cockpit who was flying the ‘Release Imran Khan’ banner.

In a separate post, a video featuring a group of men, including Atif Khan (a former Member of Prime Minister Task Force during PTI govt in Pakistan), emerged on X wherein Atif can be seen expressing his gratitude to his team members who conceived the idea of such protest. 

Cases Against Imran Khan

A former Cricket star who turned into an Islamist politician, Imran Khan served as Prime Minister from 2018 until he was dethroned in 2022. Khan, who is facing multiple cases against him, has been in jail term since August last year.

The 71-year-old PTI leader was convicted in the Toshakhana corruption case last year, subsequently he was arrested. He was found guilty of graft over receiving gifts during his term as premier from 2018 to 2022.  Although his 14-year sentence was suspended in April, the conviction remains.

Both Khan and his third wife, Bushra, are serving jail terms following a court ruling that their 2018 marriage was illegal, being too soon after her divorce.