Supporters of jailed ex-PM Imran Khan march to Pakistan capital

Thousands of demonstrators backing Pakistan's imprisoned former prime minister, Imran Khan, are advancing toward Islamabad to demand his freedom following a breakdown in discussions between party figures and government officials, according to BBC News.

The convoy began its journey on Sunday from the northwestern city of Lakki Marwat, roughly 275 kilometers from Islamabad. The march paused overnight and was slated to proceed again on Monday. Protesters waved the red and green banners of Khan's political faction, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), as they embarked on the long trek toward the capital.

The march had previously been delayed to permit negotiations between the authorities and the PTI. However, dialogue collapsed after the government dismissed party appeals for political leaders to visit Khan for consultations. The PTI had also pressed for immediate health assessments and medical care for the former premier. In response, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi asserted that provincial leadership had undermined the talks by reneging on commitments linked to counter-terrorism matters.

In anticipation of the demonstrations reaching the seat of government, security forces in Islamabad have positioned heavy shipping containers across principal entryways to seal off access. Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where the PTI holds power, stated that demonstrators aim to reach a location approximately 80 kilometers west of Islamabad by Thursday, expressing hope that the protest movement would expand across the country.

Worries regarding the condition of the 73-year-old former cricket icon have intensified. Khan's relatives allege that his vision in his right eye has severely deteriorated because prison management neglected his healthcare needs. Former international cricket captains have additionally urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to ensure Khan receives appropriate medical attention. Although Khan was taken to a government hospital in August for a checkup and declared fit by medical staff, his relatives and party colleagues protested that officials ignored a judicial directive permitting an evaluation at a private facility.

Khan, who led Pakistan from 2018 until 2022, was sentenced last year to 14 years behind bars for corruption and has remained incarcerated since August 2023. He faces more than a hundred distinct legal proceedings, spanning allegations from the disclosure of classified state information to improper handling of official gifts. The former prime minister maintains that all charges against him are driven by political motives.

Despite being confined to prison, Khan maintains significant public influence, and prior gatherings staged by his followers have frequently met with security crackdowns. As part of ongoing tensions, Khan's sister, Aleema Khanum, was taken into custody in Lahore in late September after being accused of inciting unrest and organizing anti-government chants.