Pakistan tightens security ahead of Imran Khan party march

Pakistan has intensified security measures, including blocking major highways with shipping containers and deploying tens of thousands of security forces, in anticipation of a march planned by supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The move highlights the deep divisions in the South Asian nation between Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the military-backed government.

Authorities have detained hundreds of PTI activists and three of Khan's sisters in recent days, citing the need to maintain public order. An Interior Ministry official stated on Wednesday that nearly 35,000 additional police and paramilitary personnel have been stationed in and around the capital, Islamabad, with more deployed in other parts of the country. Two major highways connecting Islamabad to the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, governed by Khan's party, have been closed until further notice.

Khan, who was ousted in 2022 and claims to be a political prisoner, has fallen out with the military, which is considered the ultimate arbiter of politics in Pakistan. The military denies his accusations. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi warned that police were instructed to respond forcefully if the march became violent. Despite the blockades, PTI party chairman Gohar Khan stated the march would proceed.

The planned protest comes amid concerns over Khan's health, as the government defied a court order to refuse him treatment in a private hospital. Public discontent over inflation and rising fuel prices has also spread beyond Khan's core supporters, coinciding with the protest. Khan's 2023 arrest previously sparked nationwide riots that challenged the standing of the Pakistani military.