Imran Khan Supporters March on Islamabad as Health Fears and Stalled Talks Fuel Protest

Thousands of backers of imprisoned former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan are moving toward Islamabad in a mass demonstration demanding his freedom, as anxiety mounts over the 73-year-old's wellbeing behind bars.

Marchers set off from Lakki Marwat, a city roughly 275km from the capital, on Sunday. The procession, estimated at around 5,000 participants, carried the red-and-green flags of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party. Organisers halted the walk overnight and planned to restart around midday local time on Monday.

The rally had originally been planned for the previous week but was pushed back to create space for negotiations between Khan's party and the government. Those discussions ultimately collapsed without agreement, clearing the way for supporters to take to the streets.

Khan's relatives have become increasingly vocal about his health, saying he has lost the majority of vision in his right eye after prison authorities allegedly failed to respond. The concerns have intensified in recent months, adding emotional weight to the marchers' demands.

The former cricket captain, who led Pakistan's national team before entering politics, is confronting charges in more than 100 cases. He was handed a 17-year sentence on corruption charges last year. Khan has consistently maintained that every case against him is politically driven.

Even from a prison cell, Khan remains a potent force in Pakistani politics. Past shows of support for him have descended into deadly violence and triggered harsh government crackdowns, underscoring the volatility surrounding his movement.

Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which is governed by Khan's party, predicted the march would reach a town approximately 80km west of Islamabad by Thursday. He framed the campaign as a nationwide awakening, saying every part of the country would soon feel its impact and every public square would become a hub of political activity. He called on citizens to engage actively in the political process.

In response, authorities in Islamabad have positioned shipping containers to seal off major routes into the capital, a familiar tactic used to restrict movement during large opposition gatherings. The barriers signal the government's determination to prevent the march from reaching its centre.

The PTI blamed the breakdown in talks on the government's refusal to let party leaders meet Khan so they could seek his guidance on national and political matters. The party also said it had requested an immediate medical examination and treatment for the imprisoned leader.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi struck back at Afridi, accusing the provincial chief minister of undermining the negotiations. According to local media accounts, Naqvi said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration had reneged on earlier commitments related to counter-terrorism.

In August, Khan was moved temporarily from prison to a state-run hospital for examination and treatment after complaints that his health was deteriorating. Doctors subsequently declared him medically fit, a conclusion that his family and party have disputed. The transfer marked the most notable relief Khan had obtained from the courts since his imprisonment in 2023 on corruption charges, which he insists were fabricated for political reasons. His relatives and the PTI nonetheless accused the authorities of ignoring a court directive that he be assessed by physicians at a designated private hospital.

On 20 September, Khan's sister, Aleema Khanum, was taken into custody in the eastern city of Lahore. The arrest warrant alleged that she had been rallying people to "create law and order situations" and to chant objectionable slogans against the government among the general public. Her detention added another flashpoint to the charged atmosphere surrounding the party.

Khan, whose wife Bushra Bibi was jailed alongside him last year, first entered prison in August 2023. He served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022. His arrest in May 2023 ignited large-scale, violent protests, during which supporters ransacked the corps commander's residence in Lahore, destroying chandeliers and carrying off furniture, paintings and even peacocks. At least eight people died in that unrest, and the army was deployed to restore order.

The current march fits a pattern of escalating confrontation between Khan's party and the government, with negotiations repeatedly failing to produce a breakthrough. Each side blames the other for the impasse, leaving the courts, the streets and the prison system as the main arenas of the dispute.

International attention has also focused on Khan's condition. Former international cricket captains have issued several appeals in recent months urging Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to ensure Khan receives proper medical care, reflecting concern that extends beyond Pakistan's borders.

With the procession resuming on Monday and Islamabad fortified against it, the coming days will test both the stamina of Khan's support base and the government's willingness to accommodate or suppress their demands. The outcome could shape the trajectory of a political standoff that has already reshaped Pakistan's landscape.