Thousands of backers of Pakistan's imprisoned former prime minister, Imran Khan, are making their way toward Islamabad in a renewed push to secure his freedom, according to organizers and local officials. The procession, which set off from the city of Lakki Marwat roughly 275 kilometers from the capital, paused overnight and was expected to get underway again around midday on Monday.
Marchers carried the red-and-green banners of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party as they walked, with estimates putting the crowd at approximately 5,000 people on Sunday. The demonstration underscores the enduring political pull of the 73-year-old former cricket captain, who has remained a central figure in Pakistani politics despite being behind bars for more than two years.
Khan's legal troubles are extensive. He faces charges in more than 100 separate cases and was sentenced to 17 years in prison last year on corruption charges. The cases against him span a wide range of allegations, from leaking state secrets to the improper sale of state gifts. Khan has consistently denied any wrongdoing and maintains that every case brought against him is politically motivated.
Health concerns have become an increasingly urgent theme of the protest movement. In recent months, members of Khan's family have raised alarm about his condition, claiming he has lost most of the vision in his right eye after prison authorities allegedly failed to act on his medical needs. The family's assertions have intensified calls from supporters and outside figures for independent oversight of his care.
The march was originally planned for last week but was pushed back to create space for negotiations between the government and PTI. Those talks ultimately collapsed without resolution, and organizers blamed the deadlock on the authorities' refusal to grant party leaders direct access to Khan so they could consult him on national and political matters. The party also said it had asked for Khan to receive an immediate medical examination and treatment.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi offered a different account, accusing Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, of undermining the negotiations. According to local media reports cited by the BBC, Naqvi said the provincial government had reneged on earlier commitments related to counter-terrorism cooperation.
Afridi, whose province is governed by PTI, struck a defiant tone on Sunday. He predicted the march would reach a town roughly 80 kilometers west of Islamabad by Thursday and framed the effort as a nationwide awakening. "By then this movement will have reached every corner of the country and every square will have become a centre of activity," he said, urging citizens to take an active role in the political process.
In anticipation of the approaching crowd, authorities in Islamabad have placed shipping containers across key roads leading into the capital, a familiar tactic used to restrict movement during large demonstrations. The barriers signal the government's determination to control the scale and location of the protest.
Khan's political trajectory has been dramatic. He first rose to global fame as captain of Pakistan's national cricket team before entering politics and serving as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. He was first imprisoned in August 2023, and his wife, Bushra Bibi, was jailed alongside him last year.
The current detention is not Khan's first experience with the intersection of his legal and medical situations. In August, he was briefly moved from prison to a state-run hospital for examination and treatment after complaints about his deteriorating health. Doctors subsequently declared him "medically fit," a conclusion that his family and party have disputed. Critics said the authorities defied a court order that would have allowed physicians at a specific private hospital to examine him.
Support for Khan has extended beyond Pakistan's borders. Several former international cricket captains have issued appeals in recent months to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging that Khan be given proper medical care. The interventions reflect the unusual international profile Khan retains as a sporting icon turned political leader.
The authorities have also moved against Khan's inner circle. On 20 September, his sister, Aleema Khanum, was arrested in the eastern city of Lahore. The arrest order accused her of mobilizing people to "create law and order situations" and of raising objectionable slogans against the government.
The history of protest around Khan's detention has been turbulent. His arrest in May 2023 triggered large-scale, violent demonstrations in which supporters ransacked the corps commander's residence in Lahore, damaging chandeliers and taking furniture, paintings, and even peacocks. At least eight people died in the unrest, and the army was called in to restore order.
The government now appears eager to avoid a repeat of such violence. Security preparations around Islamabad and the use of container walls reflect lessons learned from earlier flashpoints, when demonstrations spiraled into deadly confrontations and sweeping crackdowns.
For PTI, the march serves multiple purposes: it keeps pressure on the government, projects the party's organizational strength, and highlights the medical grievances surrounding its founder. For the government, the challenge is managing a high-profile protest without igniting broader unrest.
With the procession expected to resume Monday and reach the outskirts of Islamabad by later in the week, both sides face a pivotal stretch. The coming days will test whether the standoff can be settled through negotiation or whether Pakistan's streets once again become the stage for a more volatile confrontation.
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