Pakistan Blocks Routes to Islamabad Ahead of PTI Protest Demanding Imran Khan’s Release

Pakistan Blocks Routes to Islamabad Ahead of PTI Protest Demanding Imran Khan’s Release
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Authorities in Pakistan have sealed major roads leading to Islamabad as supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan prepare for a planned march to the capital, with the government warning against the demonstration while Khan’s party says it is exercising its constitutional right to peaceful protest.

Police announced closures of key routes, including sections of the Islamabad–Peshawar Motorway, Islamabad–Dera Ismail Khan Motorway and the Grand Trunk Road, as security measures were increased ahead of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest scheduled for September 27.

According to Pakistani media reports, authorities placed shipping containers and other barriers at major entry points around Islamabad and deployed additional security personnel in areas expected to witness movement of protesters.

The demonstration is being organized by PTI supporters calling for the release of Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023 following a series of legal cases that his party describes as politically motivated. The party has also raised concerns about Khan’s health, particularly treatment related to his right eye.