Thousands march to Islamabad demanding release of jailed ex‑PM Imran Khan

Mon Oct 05 2026 08:27:57 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Supporters of Imran Khan rally across Pakistan, urging authorities to free the former Prime Minister faced with corruption charges.

Skechers of supporters from Lakki Marwat to the capital are marching, chanting for the release of Imran Khan, who faces over a hundred corruption cases. Concerns over Khan’s deteriorating health, including loss of vision in one eye, have intensified the movement. Despite attempts at dialogue, the Pakistani government has blocked access to Khan, piling shipping containers along key routes into Islamabad. Past protests over Khan’s arrest have been violent, yet the PTI maintains its influence behind bars. The march, expected to reach a suburb of Islamabad by Thursday, highlights the escalating tension between the opposition and the state.

Thousands march to Islamabad demanding release of jailed ex‑PM Imran Khan

Thousands of supporters of Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan have begun a march toward the capital, Islamabad, demanding his release after he was jailed on a large corruption case.

Concerns over Khan’s health have risen sharply; family members say he has lost most of his vision in the right eye, a claim that prison officials have not addressed. The athlete‑turned‑politician faces over a hundred legal charges, all of which his supporters say are politically motivated.

The march, which started in Lakki Marwat 275 km from the capital, paused for the night and is expected to resume in midday local time on Monday. Earlier talks between the government and PTI were abandoned after a deadlock, leaving supporters to take to the streets.

Security forces in Islamabad have erected shipping containers to close off key routes. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has accused Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s chief minister of sabotaging negotiations, alleging that the provincial government withdrew earlier commitments on counter‑terrorism matters.

In August, Khan was briefly transferred from jail to a state‑run hospital for medical examination, but doctors declared him fit. His family and PTI protested that authorities defied a court order to examine him at a private facility.

The march has a history of confrontation. Khan’s 2023 arrest led to violent protests, including the ransacking of the corps commander’s residence in Lahore and casualties among demonstrators. Despite this, the PTI remains a powerful force within Pakistani politics.

Former cricketers and other public figures have urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to ensure Khan receives proper medical care. The road ahead for Islamabad will see the march reach a town about 80 km west of the capital by Thursday, with supporters calling for national engagement and political reform.