- The rally began on Sunday in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which is ruled by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, with stops planned at several places before reaching Islamabad.
- Thousands of supporters of Pakistan's jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan have started a long march to Islamabad to demand his release, his party said on Monday, amid deep rift with the Pakistani leadership.
- Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of the province leading the march, called on supporters: "I call upon you all to come out, the youngsters to come out for the sake of your leader who is sitting in jail."
Thousands of supporters of Pakistan's jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan have initiated a long march to Islamabad from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, demanding his release after failed negotiations with the government. The rally commenced on Sunday, with planned stops before reaching the capital.12
Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and a leader of the march, urged the youth to join, stating, "I call upon you all to come out, the youngsters to come out for the sake of your leader who is sitting in jail."3
The tensions between Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the Pakistani leadership have escalated since Khan's ouster in 2022, which he attributed to military influence—a claim the army denies. The situation worsened following Khan's arrest in May 2023, which led to riots and a crackdown on PTI supporters, resulting in thousands detained and many sentenced by military courts.
Khan, 74, has labeled himself a political prisoner, a claim contested by the military and the current civilian government, which emphasizes the independence of Pakistan's judiciary. Although Khan has faced multiple convictions, all but one have been suspended or overturned, with appeals pending. The march was initially set for September 27 but was postponed due to negotiations that ultimately failed over the weekend.
“The march, led by provincial Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, began in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a PTI stronghold, with stops planned before reaching the capital. Afridi urged youngsters to come out "for the sake of your leader who is sitting in jail."”
