Islamabad: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has launched a march from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa towards Islamabad after negotiations with the government ended without a breakthrough.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi led the march from Gandhi Chowk in Lakki Marwat on Sunday. He said he would announce the party’s next course of action once the PTI convoy reaches Khairabad on 8 October.
PTI’s key demands include an immediate meeting with Khan and his transfer to a hospital where he can receive medical examination and treatment from private doctors. The first round of talks between the government and PTI was held on Friday, followed by a second round that began at around 5pm on Saturday and continued for several hours.
Although both sides presented their positions and agreed to keep the dialogue open, no agreement was reached. PTI pressed for Khan’s transfer to hospital, while the government sought the cancellation of the party’s planned 4 October protest.
The talks concluded early on Sunday without a settlement, prompting PTI to proceed with its planned mobilisation. The party had initially scheduled the Islamabad march for 27 September before postponing it to 4 October.
Khan, 73, has been imprisoned since 2023 and faces more than 100 cases, including allegations relating to corruption and incitement to violence. He is currently being held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
Meanwhile, Rana Sanaullah, political adviser to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, said the protesters would not be permitted to enter Islamabad.
The federal government has deployed additional security personnel and placed shipping containers on roads leading towards the capital in an effort to prevent the protesters from entering the city.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, speaking at a press conference in Lahore, warned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi that he would be held responsible if anyone died during the political confrontation.
“If even one person loses their life, Sohail Afridi will be responsible,” Naqvi told the media.
He also said the government would not allow any violation of judicial orders and would implement decisions taken by the President and Prime Minister.
