Thousands of Imran Khan's supporters have set off from Lakki Marwat toward Islamabad demanding his release amid growing concerns over his health. Khan, 73, has been imprisoned since August 2023 and faces more than 100 cases; he received a 14-year sentence on corruption charges he calls politically motivated. The march resumed after talks between the government and the PTI collapsed, while authorities have blocked key routes into the capital and tensions remain high.
Thousands March Toward Islamabad Demanding Release of Imran Khan Amid Health Fears
Some 5,000 people took to the streets on Sunday carrying red-and-green flags of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party [Getty Images]
Thousands of supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan have begun a high-profile march toward Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, pressing for his release and raising alarm about his health.
Khan, 73, a former international cricket captain turned politician, was imprisoned in August 2023 and has since faced more than 100 criminal cases. He has received a 14-year sentence on corruption-related charges and maintains that the prosecutions are politically motivated.
His family says Khan has lost most of the vision in his right eye and accuses prison authorities of failing to provide adequate medical care. In August he was briefly transferred to a state-run hospital for examination and treatment; doctors there later declared him "medically fit," a finding his family and party dispute, saying authorities defied a court order for a private-hospital examination.
The march began in Lakki Marwat, about 275 km from Islamabad, and paused overnight on Sunday. Organisers say the procession will resume around midday local time on Monday. The demonstration was postponed from the previous week to allow talks between the government and Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party; those talks ended in deadlock.
Political Tensions And Security Measures
Authorities in Islamabad have placed shipping containers and other barriers to block key access routes to the capital ahead of the march. The PTI says negotiations collapsed after officials refused the party's request to visit Khan so its leaders could consult him on national and political matters. The party also demanded an immediate independent medical examination and treatment for Khan.
Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (ruled by PTI), told supporters the movement would "reach every corner of the country" and urged people to take an active role in politics. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused Afridi of "sabotaging" talks, saying the provincial government withdrew earlier commitments on counter-terrorism, according to local media.
Past demonstrations in support of Khan have at times triggered deadly clashes and heavy-handed crackdowns by security forces. Khan's imprisonment in 2023 provoked large-scale protests by his supporters across the country.
On 20 September, Khan's sister Aleema Khanum was arrested in Lahore; authorities said she had mobilised people and been involved in chanting slogans against the government. Former international cricket captains and other public figures have appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to ensure Khan receives appropriate medical care.
The situation remains fluid as the march progresses and security authorities maintain heightened measures around Islamabad.
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