Pakistan Tightens Security in Islamabad as Imran Khan’s Party Delays Protest March

Pakistan Tightens Security in Islamabad as Imran Khan’s Party Delays Protest March
Pakistan’s capital Islamabad has been placed under heavy security measures as the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party prepares a march demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who has remained imprisoned since 2023. The party postponed the planned march from September 27 to October 4, while authorities continued blocking roads and deploying security forces.
The government deployed thousands of police and paramilitary personnel, sealed key routes, and placed hundreds of shipping containers around Islamabad to prevent disruptions ahead of the protest. The security measures have affected daily life in the capital, with traffic restrictions and closures reported in several areas.
PTI leaders said the march would proceed on October 4 from Peshawar, continuing their campaign for Khan’s release and what they describe as political and constitutional reforms. The party’s leadership in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has accused authorities of attempting to block peaceful demonstrations through arrests and restrictions.
Government officials have defended the security measures as necessary to prevent unrest and disruption, while opposition figures argue that restrictions on protests and arrests of PTI members represent political pressure.
The standoff comes amid ongoing political tensions in Pakistan following Khan’s removal from office in 2022 and his subsequent legal battles. PTI says the cases against its founder are politically motivated, while authorities reject those allegations.