Imran Khan supporters march to Islamabad after government talks fail

Thousands of supporters of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan began a multi-day march from Lakki Marwat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, October 4, 2026, demanding his release after negotiations with the federal government ended in deadlock. The protest, organized by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, represents the latest pressure campaign to free Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023 on corruption and other charges that he and his party claim are politically motivated.

The march follows failed negotiations held over the weekend between government and PTI representatives. The government had urged postponement, citing security concerns and a surge in militant attacks in the northwest. However, talks collapsed after two rounds when PTI demanded that Khan be included in political consultations. The march was originally scheduled for September 27 but was postponed to allow for the negotiations. According to the PTI's announced schedule, the procession is expected to reach Peshawar by Wednesday and advance toward Khairabad, approximately 80 kilometers west of Islamabad, by Thursday, where organizers plan to announce the next phase of the protest.

The government has taken extensive measures to prevent the march from reaching Islamabad, including erecting barriers made of shipping containers and sandbags at the capital's main access routes. An Islamabad High Court order from September 14 prohibits political parties from occupying public roads, highways, and buildings in the capital. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi warned that violators would be pursued "one by one," and government officials have stated the march will not be permitted to enter Islamabad. Some government ministers have threatened to impose governor's rule or declare an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa if the PTI proceeds, though others have stated they oppose such measures on political grounds.

Healthcare concerns for Khan have intensified the demands for his release. The 74-year-old former cricket star's family and party colleagues claim he suffers from a serious condition affecting his right eye that has caused significant vision loss, alongside high blood pressure. They allege he is held in solitary confinement and has been denied visits from his doctor or relatives. In August 2026, Khan was briefly transferred to a state-run hospital for medical examination, where doctors declared him "medically fit," but his family criticized authorities for not following court orders to have him examined at a designated private hospital. The PTI has also demanded the release of Khan's three sisters, who were detained last month on national security grounds.

Khan, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022 before being ousted by a parliamentary vote of no confidence, remains Pakistan's most popular political figure according to polls. He faces charges in over 100 cases; all but one of his convictions have been suspended or overturned on appeal. The march is being led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, a Khan supporter who used a state helicopter to reach the starting point, an action criticized by federal ministers as violating a court order against using government resources for political activities. Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed to Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in preparation for the march's arrival.