Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's top leadership has drawn a clear line in the sand: no structural reforms to the country's governance system until the assemblies reflect what the party considers genuine public will. Salman Akram Raja, the party's secretary general, made the declaration while condemning police violence against a journalist during a protest in Lahore. Main Developments Speaking to media on Thursday outside the residence of journalist Natiq Rehman, Raja argued that both the national parliament and provincial assemblies currently lack legitimacy. He described the existing setup as an "artificial" system established through what he termed a fraudulent election, and insisted that change must wait for "true representatives." The PTI leader also outlined a three-step demand regarding party founder Imran Khan. First, Khan must be shifted to a hospital for proper medical treatment. Second, he should be released from custody. Third, all "false cases" registered against him must be withdrawn, and his status as the country's most significant political figure should be formally acknowledged. Read also: Senate panel demands SHCC report on Valika HIV cases, licence review Raja additionally insisted that Khan be included in any broader dialogue process. Flanked by PTI Information Secretary Shaukat Basra, he addressed the journalist's assault directly, calling the police conduct "inappropriate and unjust" and demanding an immediate FIR be registered against those responsible. Background The journalist, Natiq Rehman, was beaten by police on Wednesday during a party protest held in front of civil courts in Lahore. Raja praised Rehman's efforts to document "state violence" on camera, describing the incident as "an atrocity against humanity." The protest comes amid ongoing PTI agitation over Khan's detention and the party's claims of electoral manipulation. Why It Matters Raja's linkage of constitutional reform to electoral legitimacy raises the stakes for any future political settlement. His demand that Khan be a central participant in negotiations suggests the party views any process excluding its founder as inherently flawed. The party's insistence on treating the current assemblies as illegitimate also signals continued confrontation rather than accommodation. What's Next On the party's September 27 protest call, Raja said the final programme would be announced within days. He stressed that political parties alone cannot drive change, asserting that revolutions require the participation of entire nations and calling on citizens to leave their homes to support the cause.