2022 Azadi March I

2022 Azadi march I
Part of 2022–2023 Pakistan political unrest
Date	25 May 2022 (2022-05-25) – 26 May 2022
Location	Pakistan Countrywide followed by marches to Islamabad, also Demonstrations by Pakistani communities in Australia, United Kingdom, New Zealand, United States, Canada, Italy and many other countries
Caused by	Khan's accusation on the government on regime change (not proven)[1] Alleged US interference in Pakistan’s internal politics (not proven)
Goals	Overthrow of the Sharif government Dissolution of the National Assembly and announcement of general elections A snap election
Methods	Protesters: Sit-in Demonstrations Riots Protest Strikes Civil disobedience Civil resistance Self-immolation Hashtag activism Online activism Stone pelting Government and its supporters: Traffic blockage in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Traffic blockage in Islamabad Tear gas shelling Riot police Lathi charge Police raid on PTI activists and workers houses Mass arrest Transport restrictions Water cannon
Status	Inconclusive Imran Khan calls off the march after two days.
Parties
Sharif government Supported by Pakistan Democratic Movement Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Supported by Awami Muslim League Pakistan Muslim League (Q) Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen Grand Democratic Alliance
Lead figures
Shahbaz Sharif (PML-N) Rana Sanaullah (PML-N) Maryam Nawaz (PML-N) Supported by Asif Ali Zardari (PPP) Mahmood Khan Achakzai (PkMAP) Fazal-ur-Rehman (JUI-F) Waseem Akhtar Khawaja Izharul Hassan Amir Khan Abdul Waseem (MQM-P) Faisal Subzwari Imran Khan (PTI) Supported by Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad (AML) Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain (PML-Q) Raja Nasir Abbas (MWM) Pir Pagaro (GDA)
Other protests Azadi March II →

The 2022 Azadi March I (Urdu: آزادی مارچ, romanized: Āzādī Mārch, lit. 'Freedom March') was a protest march initiated by the ousted former Pakistani prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party chairman Imran Khan against the government of his successor, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. On 24 May 2022, Khan announced a long march towards Islamabad starting on 25 May 2022.^[2] Khan lead the march from Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where his provincial government helped him. Senior PTI members lead the march from Lahore, the capital of Punjab.

Imran Khan asked people to reach the Srinagar Highway in Islamabad to support his demands for early elections. His workers would stay in Islamabad as required, for their only demand would be to give a date for clean and transparent general elections and to dissolve assemblies.^[3] Addressing the bureaucracy and the police, Khan said it would be illegal for them to take any action against the "peaceful protest". Addressing the Pakistan Army, he said "if you are neutral then be neutral too".^[4][5] It was expected that the protest would involve around 2 million workers marching to Islamabad and that they would remain there until the election is declared. The protesters, led by Imran Khan, aimed to hold a sit-in at D-Chowk in Islamabad until the date for the dissolution of assemblies and a date for new general elections was announced.^[6] Imran Khan gave a six-day ultimatum to the government to declare elections and dissolve assemblies.^[7]