Imran Khan Supporters March Towards Islamabad Demanding Release
Thousands of followers of the imprisoned former Pakistani prime minister began a multi-day trek to the capital after talks with the government failed.
More than 5,000 supporters of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan began a march toward Islamabad on Sunday, seeking his release after negotiations between his party and the government collapsed.
The demonstration, organized by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, departed from the Lakki Marwat district in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Participants are traveling in a convoy of trucks, buses, and cars, with planned overnight stops en route to the capital.
Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a prominent Khan supporter, is leading the march. He expressed confidence that the movement would pressure authorities to address their demands.
Authorities have placed roadblocks, including shipping containers, at the entrances to Islamabad and within the city in anticipation of the protest. The federal government had sought to postpone the march, citing a recent increase in militant attacks in the northwest, according to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Naqvi also warned Afridi that he would be held responsible for any casualties during the planned demonstration.
Talks between the PTI and the government to find a resolution failed after two rounds, according to Gohar Khan, the PTI chairman. The government has accused PTI of sympathizing with the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, an accusation the party denies.
Supporters are demanding Khan's release from imprisonment, his transfer to a hospital, and permission for his family to visit him. Officials state that Khan is in good health and receives regular family visits but contend that meetings should not be used for political purposes.
This march was originally scheduled for September 27 but was postponed after party leaders reported that authorities had blocked key routes to Islamabad, including the Attock Bridge, a critical crossing for convoys from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Khan, who served as prime minister until April 2022 when he was ousted in a no-confidence vote, remains a significant figure in Pakistan's political landscape. His party alleges that the February 2024 elections, which returned Shehbaz Sharif to the prime ministership, were rigged to prevent a PTI victory. The government denies these allegations.
Previous protests by Khan's supporters have resulted in violence, including incidents in 2024 where both security personnel and civilians were killed. The current political uncertainty is occurring alongside a rise in militant activity in the region.