Key facts
- Pakistan's government has deployed tens of thousands of police and barricaded highways in Islamabad to prevent a nationwide demonstration.
- The demonstration is organized by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, demanding the release of the former prime minister.
- Imran Khan has been in jail since 2023 on corruption charges, which he denies.
- PTI leaders are deliberating whether to proceed with the march on Sunday or delay it.
- Analysts suggest the protest could challenge the military-backed government.
- Dozens of PTI leaders and ministers have been detained or issued arrest warrants.
Pakistan's government has implemented extensive security measures, including deploying tens of thousands of police, barricading highways with over 1,000 shipping containers, and issuing arrest warrants, in an effort to prevent a nationwide demonstration planned by Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The march is intended to demand the release of former Prime Minister Khan, who has been incarcerated since 2023 on corruption charges that he denies, claiming they are politically motivated.
PTI leaders are reportedly deliberating on whether to proceed with the march on Sunday or postpone it, as the government seeks to maintain control. Analysts suggest the protest could pose a significant challenge to the current military-backed administration, which is perceived as weak and unpopular, while Khan remains a popular figure.
In addition to the nationwide security crackdown, dozens of PTI leaders and ministers have been detained or are facing arrest warrants. Khan's three sisters were also arrested earlier in the week. Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of PTI's stronghold Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, insisted the march would proceed unless the government made concessions regarding Khan's treatment and legal proceedings. He stated that the government's actions indicated panic and that public power would ultimately prevail.
Faisal Karim Kundi, the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, defended the security measures as precautionary and accused the PTI of attempting to incite instability and violence. The lockdown in Islamabad has caused significant disruption, with businesses struggling to obtain supplies and citizens expressing frustration over the city's resemblance to a high-security fortress. Despite government efforts to suppress Khan's influence, he remains a significant political alternative for many Pakistanis.