Imran Khan supporters march on Islamabad demanding his release

Thousands of supporters of Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan are marching towards Islamabad to demand his release. The march began in Lakki Marwat, a city about 275km from the capital, paused for the night and was expected to resume around midday local time on Monday.

Why are Imran Khan’s supporters marching to Islamabad?

The demonstration was originally scheduled for last week but was postponed to allow talks between the government and Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. Those talks ended in a deadlock.

PTI said the negotiations failed because authorities rejected its request for access to Khan so that party leaders could consult him on national and political issues. The party also said it had demanded that Khan be given an immediate medical examination and treatment.

How far is the march and when could it reach the capital?

Sohail Afridi, chief minister of the PTI-ruled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said he expects the march to make its way to a town about 80km (50 miles) west of Islamabad by Thursday. “[By then] this movement will have reached every corner of the country and every square will have become a centre of activity,” he said, urging people to “play an active role in the political process”.

Authorities in Islamabad have stacked up shipping containers to block key access routes to the city. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused Afridi of “sabotaging” negotiations, saying the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had backed out of earlier commitments on counter-terrorism issues, according to Pakistan’s local media reports.

What charges does Imran Khan face?

Khan, 73, faces charges in more than 100 cases, ranging from leaking state secrets to selling state gifts. He was jailed for 17 years over corruption last year and was first imprisoned in August 2023. His wife, Bushra Bibi, was jailed along with him last year. Khan has said all the cases against him are politically motivated.

What is the state of Imran Khan’s health?

Concerns over the 73-year-old’s health have grown louder in recent months. His family claims he has lost most of his vision in his right eye after prison authorities failed to take action.

In August, Khan was briefly transferred from jail to a state-run hospital for medical examination and treatment following complaints about his deteriorating health. The doctors later deemed him “medically fit”. His family and PTI criticised the authorities for defying a court order that he be examined by physicians at a specific private hospital.

On 20 September, Khan’s sister Aleema Khanum was arrested in the eastern city of Lahore. The arrest order said Khanum had been mobilising people to “create law and order situations” and “raising/chanting objectionable slogans amongst the general public against the Government”.

What happened after Imran Khan’s arrest in 2023?

Khan, who previously captained the Pakistan national cricket team, served as the country’s prime minister from 2018 to 2022. His arrest in May 2023 sparked large-scale, violent protests by supporters, who ransacked the corps commander’s residence in Lahore. At least eight people died in the protests and the army had to be called in to quell the violence.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the Imran Khan supporters’ march now?

The march began in Lakki Marwat, about 275km from Islamabad, and paused overnight. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Sohail Afridi said he expects it to reach a town about 80km west of Islamabad by Thursday.

How long is Imran Khan jailed for and on what charges?

Imran Khan was jailed for 17 years over corruption last year and faces charges in more than 100 cases, including leaking state secrets and selling state gifts. He was first imprisoned in August 2023.

Why did talks between the government and PTI fail?

PTI said authorities rejected its request for access to Imran Khan so its leaders could consult him on national and political issues, and for him to receive an immediate medical examination and treatment. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused Sohail Afridi of sabotaging the negotiations.

What has Pakistan said about Imran Khan’s health?

Khan was briefly transferred from jail to a state-run hospital in August for examination and treatment, after which doctors deemed him “medically fit”. His family says he has lost most of the vision in his right eye and has criticised authorities for not sending him to a private hospital named in a court order.

With reporting from BBC News.

Stock image, not from the events described. Globe World — Jo%E3o%20Silas / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)