Imran Khan’s party delays protest as authorities block highways, deploy thousands of troops and detain activists, including the former prime minister’s sisters.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has postponed its planned long march to Islamabad from September 27 to October 4, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced on Friday, citing a unanimous decision by the party’s political committee.
The march, intended to press for the release of jailed former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, was to begin from Peshawar and head towards the federal capital. Afridi told reporters the party’s struggle remained focused on “the supremacy of the Constitution, restoration of the independent judiciary, media freedom and Haqiqi Azadi (true freedom) as envisioned by Imran Khan.”
PTI Postpones Islamabad March to October 4:
The delay comes as the federal government and authorities in Punjab imposed extensive security measures to prevent the protest. Major highways leading into Islamabad were blocked with shipping containers, and tens of thousands of security personnel were deployed across the capital and key access routes. Authorities have also detained hundreds of PTI activists in recent days, citing the need to maintain public order. Three of Khan’s sisters were among those held.
Party spokesperson Zulfi Bukhari said that while the date had been moved to October 4, the party retained the option to launch the march earlier if it chose. “We can now do it whenever we deem fit. The question is to the government, as to how long they’re willing to keep the country closed off?” he told Media.
A senior PTI leader, speaking anonymously, described the postponement as a strategic move to exhaust government resources already committed to sealing off the capital and major routes. Some party sources indicated that internal discussions had considered alternative dates, including October 5-Khan’s birthday-before settling on October 4.
PTI had announced the march last month as part of a broader campaign to secure Khan’s release. The 73-year-old former cricket star, ousted in a 2022 no-confidence vote, has been imprisoned since 2023 following convictions in multiple cases that he and his supporters describe as politically motivated. He remains in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail and has repeatedly called himself a political prisoner.
PTI Vows to Proceed With Islamabad March Despite Restrictions:
The party’s last major mobilisation two years ago ended in deadly clashes with security forces. Authorities have warned against any repeat of violence, while PTI leaders have accused the government of seeking to suppress legitimate political expression through roadblocks, mass detentions and restrictions on movement.
Afridi stressed that the march would still proceed despite the obstacles. “Our long march will definitely take place,” he had said earlier, adding that supporters would reach Islamabad “whether the government closes roads or places containers” in their path. The formal shift in date, however, reflected the practical difficulties of mobilising large numbers of supporters under the current security cordon.
The postponement has not been uniformly welcomed by all opposition allies. Reports indicated differences with Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who had favoured sticking to the original September 27 timeline. Coordination with other opposition figures, including Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, continued as the party adjusted its plans.
The developments underscore the deepening political confrontation in Pakistan. Khan’s continued incarceration and the government’s hardline response to PTI mobilisations have kept tensions high, with both sides accusing the other of undermining democratic norms. As security forces maintain their lockdown of key routes and PTI prepares for the rescheduled march, the coming days are likely to test the resilience of both the opposition’s street power and the authorities’ capacity to contain it.