Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders announced Saturday they will seek judicial approval for their planned Aug 5 protest after the Lahore deputy commissioner failed to respond to their permission request. Speaking at a press conference at the Lahore Press Club, Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and Lahore President Mian Akram Usman outlined the party's legal strategy amid broader grievances against the government. Main Developments PTI will file a court petition to secure permission for its Aug 5 protest, citing the deputy commissioner's silence on their application for a peaceful gathering. Mr Usman confirmed the party had formally requested permission but received no response, prompting the legal move. “Against this silence, we will go to court and execute our Aug 5 plan,” he asserted. During the press conference, Raja expressed solidarity with Azad Kashmir, claiming over 100 people were martyred there, and said “these sacrifices will not go in vain.” He also condemned rising terrorism in Balochistan and recent casualties in District Tank, accusing the state of failing its basic duty to protect citizens. Read also: Why a student hostel raid reveals Pakistan's militant crackdown Background The protest plans follow months of tension between PTI and authorities. Raja alleged serious violations in the handling of the Nov 26 incident, claiming the world witnessed how bodies of PTI martyrs were made to disappear. He asserted that medical reports and bodies of 14 martyrs were ready but relevant people were being threatened. PTI founder Imran Khan remains in solitary confinement, facing 300 cases and denied access to lawyers, according to Raja. The party secretary general lamented that after the 26th Constitutional Amendment, “expecting justice from the courts is tantamount to deceiving yourself.” Why It Matters The legal battle over protest permission reflects deepening distrust between PTI and state institutions. Raja accused the government of “ambushing the public” by raising petrol, diesel and kerosene prices overnight, calling it extreme incompetence. He also claimed 4.5 million tonnes of wheat had gone missing from the country's total 29 million tonnes, highlighting economic mismanagement. Drawing comparisons with regional movements, Raja said that just as youth in India and Bangladesh took to the streets for their rights, Pakistani youth had the same right and should not be underestimated. The Aug 5 protest, he said, is “a call from Imran Khan and his sisters,” and he hoped the nation would respond. What's Next PTI will proceed with its court petition in the coming days, seeking a judicial order to allow the Aug 5 gathering. The party's legal team is expected to argue that the deputy commissioner's silence violates constitutional guarantees of peaceful assembly. Whether the court will grant permission or impose conditions remains uncertain, but PTI leaders have signaled they will proceed regardless of the outcome.