Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Imran Khan Supporters March as Pakistan Blocks Islamabad Entry
Thousands of people who support Imran Khan have started marching toward Pakistan’s capital.
They want him released from prison.
The march began in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a province governed by Khan’s party, PTI.
It was delayed while the party and the government tried to reach an agreement, but the talks stopped without a deal.
The government says it will not let the marchers enter Islamabad.
Police and paramilitary personnel have been sent to the area, and shipping containers have been used to block some routes.
The two sides disagree about why the talks failed.
Khan’s party says the government pressured it unfairly, while the government says PTI would not cooperate on counter-terrorism policy.
Afridi said the march would go toward Khairabad before its next steps were announced.
Thousands of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters began a march in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday, October 4, demanding Imran Khan’s release.
The march was postponed from September 27 after government talks with PTI began and then stalled over the weekend.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the march was heading toward Khairabad, about 80 kilometres west of Islamabad, with further steps to be announced there.
The government said it would prevent marchers from entering Islamabad and deployed police and paramilitary personnel while blocking routes with shipping containers.
The government and PTI gave different accounts of why talks failed; Khan and his legal team reject the cases against him as politically motivated.
- Who
- Supporters of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
- What
- A march demanding Khan’s release; the government says it will prevent marchers from entering Islamabad.
- When
- The march began Sunday, October 4, 2026, after being postponed from September 27.
- Where
- It began in Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and was planned to proceed toward Khairabad, west of Islamabad.
- Why
- Supporters are protesting Khan’s imprisonment and demanding his release.
PTI and Khan’s supporters
Pakistan’s government
Why talks failed
PTI and Khan’s supporters
PTI rejected the government’s account and said it was pressured to accept unfair concessions. Reports also said the party sought access to Khan by his doctor.
Pakistan’s government
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said talks failed because PTI would not cooperate on a counter-terrorism policy for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The march and Islamabad
PTI and Khan’s supporters
PTI supporters are marching to demand Khan’s release; Afridi urged people to join the demonstration.
Pakistan’s government
The government says it will not allow the marchers into Islamabad and says protests cannot disrupt business in the capital.
Khan’s imprisonment
PTI and Khan’s supporters
Khan and his legal team reject the allegations against him as politically motivated; Khan has described himself as a political prisoner.
Pakistan’s government
The military and civilian government deny that Khan is a political prisoner and point to the independence of Pakistan’s judiciary.
- Party
- Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
- March began
- Sunday, October 4, 2026, in Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Original date
- September 27
- Planned route
- Toward Khairabad, about 80 kilometres west of Islamabad, by Thursday
- Government response
- Authorities deployed police and paramilitary personnel and placed shipping containers to barricade routes and the government district
- Talks
- Negotiations between the government and PTI representatives stalled over the weekend
- Khan’s legal status
- He was convicted in several trials; all but one conviction have been suspended or overturned, with appeals pending
- Age reported
- Articles give Khan’s age as either 73 or 74
