Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Imran Khan Supporters Revive Islamabad March After Talks Fail
Imran Khan is in jail, and his political party wants to meet him and have his own doctors check him.
The party also wants some detained supporters and Khan’s sisters released.
Government and opposition representatives talked, but they did not reach an agreement.
The government wanted the party to cancel its march before deciding about a meeting with Khan.
PTI wanted to meet him before deciding whether to march.
The party announced a route that would start in Lakki Marwat and include several stops.
People were expected to gather at Khairabad on October 8, but the final part of the route to Islamabad was not announced.
The government said marchers would not be allowed into Islamabad and set up security barriers.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said its supporters would proceed with a march toward Islamabad after talks with the government ended without agreement.
PTI sought a meeting with Imran Khan, his transfer to a hospital for care by his personal doctors, and the release of detained supporters and Khan’s sisters.
The government urged PTI to cancel the protest before deciding on a meeting with Khan; government and opposition representatives also gave differing accounts of the talks’ deadlock.
The march was scheduled to begin at Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat on October 4, with staged overnight stops before participants gathered at Khairabad on October 8.
Authorities placed containers and additional security on routes to Islamabad, while Rana Sanaullah said protesters would not be allowed to enter the capital.
- Who
- Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan’s federal government, and the party’s supporters.
- What
- PTI revived its planned march toward Islamabad after negotiations with the government failed to produce an agreement.
- When
- The talks ended in a deadlock early Sunday; the march was scheduled to begin October 4, with a gathering at Khairabad planned for October 8.
- Where
- The march was to start at Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and head toward Islamabad.
- Why
- PTI sought Khan’s release and access to him, including hospital care by his personal doctors; talks also involved detained supporters and security cooperation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
PTI and opposition position
Government position
Access to Imran Khan
PTI and opposition position
PTI demanded a meeting with Khan and his transfer to a hospital for examination and treatment by his personal doctors.
Government position
The government called on PTI to cancel the protest first and said the question of a meeting with Khan would be decided later. Authorities said he was in good health and received regular family visits.
Why the talks failed
PTI and opposition position
Opposition representatives cited unresolved questions about access to Khan and security cooperation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; Sherry Rehman also said an agreed draft was changed four times.
Government position
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry said the talks failed primarily because the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government did not assure the Centre it would cooperate in fighting terrorism.
The march and Islamabad
PTI and opposition position
PTI said its supporters would proceed with the staged march toward Islamabad after talks failed.
Government position
The government deployed security personnel and containers on roads leading to the capital, and Rana Sanaullah said protesters would not be allowed to enter Islamabad.
- Party
- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
- Talks
- Two rounds of government-opposition discussions ended without a settlement.
- PTI demands
- A meeting with Khan, hospital transfer and examination by his personal doctors, and the release of detained supporters and Khan’s sisters.
- Starting point
- Gandi Chowk, Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Planned route
- The announced stages included overnight stops near Karak, Kohat, Mattani and Charsadda Interchange, followed by a gathering at Khairabad on October 8.
- Government position
- The government said PTI should cancel the protest before it would decide on a meeting with Khan; Rana Sanaullah said protesters would not be allowed into Islamabad.
- Reported imprisonment date
- One article says Khan has been imprisoned since 2003, while another says since 2023.
