Imran Khan supporters begin march to Islamabad

Supporters of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan commenced a "long march" from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, heading towards the capital Islamabad. The demonstration is organized by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and aims to secure his release from prison, along with other demands such as his transfer to a hospital and permission for family visits. Khan has been imprisoned since 2003 on charges his party asserts are politically motivated.

Talks between the PTI and the Pakistan federal government failed to reach an agreement to postpone the march, leading to its commencement. Authorities have been preparing for the demonstrators' arrival for weeks, implementing roadblocks and security measures within Islamabad. The march is planned to make several overnight stops before reaching a point where the next phase will be announced.

Previous protests following Khan's arrest in 2023 resulted in riots causing an estimated $8.9 million in damage and thousands of arrests. Demonstrations against the February general election results in 2024, which PTI claimed were rigged, led to at least six security personnel and civilians deaths.