Leaders from Imran Khan’s party have vowed to go ahead with a nationwide demonstration in Pakistan to demand the former prime minister’s release, even as the government deployed tens of thousands of police to Islamabad, barricaded highways and issued arrest warrants to try to stop the march. The state has taken extreme measures to prevent Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party from proceeding with the march, due to take place over the weekend. It was announced after mounting concerns of the treatment of Khan, who has been in jail since 2023 on corruption charges.
On Friday, deliberation continued among PTI leaders over whether to begin the march on Sunday and move slowly towards Islamabad to “exhaust the government” or whether to delay until next week. Analysts said the protest could present a major challenge to the military-backed government, which is widely regarded as weak, illegitimate and unpopular, while Khan remains a popular rallying figure. The ruling coalition is led by the prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, but the army chief, Field Marshall Asim Munir, is widely seen as the country’s de facto leader.
This week, dozens of PTI leaders and ministers have been detained or given with arrest warrants, while Khan’s three sisters were arrested on Monday and remain in jail, charged with posing a “grave threat” to security. Among those facing arrest is Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of Khan’s home province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI’s stronghold where thousands of supporters are expected to join the march to the capital. Afridi said the PTI would carry out the march unless the government made significant concessions over Khan’s treatment and conditions in jail, including a fair hearing for Khan’s cases.
I am certain they won’t be able to stop the public power of the masses when they come out on streets and take to Islamabad.” Afridi acknowledged the scale of the security deployment had led many to fear there could be a violent confrontation to prevent Khan’s supporters entering the capital, as had been seen in previous demonstrations. The government has already deployed tens of thousands of security officials to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and shut down the main highway connecting the provincial capital, Peshawar, to Islamabad. Our plan is to bring so many people that they surrender.” Faisal Karim Kundi, the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – a central government appointee – defended the security measures being taken against PTI as “precautionary” and accused the party of trying to create “instability and violence”.
Public frustration has mounted in Islamabad as the government’s measures to stop Khan’s party supporters having any way to enter the capital has led to the city resembling a high-security fortress. More than 1,000 shipping containers, many fortified with spikes, have blockaded roads and sandbags were placed on bridges, while a key highway into the capital was closed. Public gatherings have been banned in Islamabad and 22,000 police and other security personnel have been deployed across the capital.
The government’s shutdown has fuelled anger and frustration in the capital, with many businesses unable to get supplies. Shahid, 76, a retired businessman, said: “The entire city is suffering. The government has shut down the whole city and we, as citizens, are helpless.
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