Imran Khan Supporters Launch March on Islamabad to Demand Release
More than 5,000 supporters of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan began a dayslong march toward Islamabad on Sunday to demand his release, after talks between the government and the opposition broke down. The caravan of trucks, buses, and cars departed from the Lakki Marwat district in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, setting off a high-stakes political showdown that threatens to deepen the country’s instability amid a surge in militant attacks.
Convoy Departs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa After Stalled Negotiations
The march kicked off on Sunday, after negotiations between Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and federal authorities collapsed. Gohar Khan, the party’s chairman, confirmed that discussions remained deadlocked following two rounds of talks aimed at postponing the demonstration. Organizers planned overnight stops along the route as the convoy makes its way toward the capital. Sohail Afridi, the province’s chief minister and a staunch Khan supporter, leads the march from a specially designed container truck emblazoned with a large portrait of the former prime minister.
Security Lockdowns and Government Warnings Intensify in Islamabad
Federal authorities spent weeks preparing for the potential arrival of demonstrators, erecting roadblocks with containers at city entrances and inside Islamabad. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi blamed Afridi for the failure of the negotiations, warning that he would be held responsible for any loss of life during the march. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government had urged organizers to postpone the event, citing an active surge in militant attacks by the Pakistani Taliban in the northwest. The federal government has also accused PTI of sympathizing with the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan.
Protesters Demand Release and Medical Transfer for Imran Khan
Demonstrators are calling for the immediate release of Imran Khan, who has remained imprisoned since 2023 on corruption and other charges. Khan and his party maintain that all charges are politically motivated. Protesters are also demanding his transfer to a hospital and permission for family members to visit him. Government officials counter that Khan is in good health, receives regular family visits, and insist that meetings with the imprisoned leader cannot be used for political purposes.
Previous Protests and Background Leading to the Current Standoff
This political crisis traces back to April 2022, when Khan, a former cricket star, was ousted in a parliamentary no-confidence vote. Shehbaz Sharif subsequently returned to office following the February 2024 election—an outcome which Khan’s party claims was rigged to prevent a PTI victory, though the government denies the allegation. A previous march scheduled for September 27 was postponed after party leaders stated that authorities blocked key approaches to Islamabad, including the Attock Bridge. Past demonstrations by Khan’s supporters have turned violent, resulting in fatalities among both security personnel and civilians during 2024 protests.
Upcoming Convoy Movements Toward the Capital
Organizers vow to push forward with the caravan and reach Islamabad after rallying with hundreds of thousands of Khan supporters along the route. As the convoy continues its multi-day journey from the northwest, federal security forces maintain strict roadblocks across major transit arteries into the capital, setting the stage for a tense confrontation.