Imran Khan supporters march to Islamabad in Pakistan

Thousands of supporters marched towards Islamabad to demand the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, who is detained in Pakistan.

The march, led by Khan's party, the Pakistan Justice Movement (PTI), escalated tensions between the government and the opposition again.

The march started on Sunday in PTI-ruled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The demonstrators are planned to reach the capital Islamabad after stopping in different cities.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Prime Minister Sohail Afridi, who led the march, appealed to Imran Khan's supporters.

Afridi said, "I want all of you, especially young people, to take to the streets for your leader who is in prison."

The tension between PTI and the Pakistani administration extends to Imran Khan's removal from the prime ministership with a vote of no confidence in the parliament in 2022.

While Khan claimed that the army was behind his dismissal, the Pakistani army denies this accusation.

DETENTION TRIGGERED VIOLENT INCIDENTS IN 2023

The detention of Imran Khan in May 2023 led to protests across the country, and some demonstrators attacked military facilities.

Following the events, the government launched a large-scale operation, thousands of PTI supporters were detained and dozens of people were tried in military courts and sentenced to various penalties.

Khan, 74, a former cricket star, describes himself as a "political prisoner".

The Pakistani government and army reject this characterization and argue that the judiciary in the country is independent.

Imran Khan was convicted of various crimes in different cases.

However, all but one of the convictions against him were later suspended or overturned. Appeal processes in some files continue.

NEGOTIATIONS REMAINED UNCONCLUSION

The march was originally planned to be held on September 27.

However, the march was postponed after Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's government offered to meet with PTI. PTI took action again after negotiations between the parties failed over the weekend.

The last major demonstration organized by the party two years ago ended in clashes with security forces that led to casualties.

Security measures were increased in Islamabad before the new march.

While thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed in the capital and its surroundings, the entrances to the government area, where the parliament, the prime minister's residence and foreign embassies are located, were closed with containers.

The government announced that demonstrators would not be allowed to enter the central areas of the capital.

MINISTER OF INTERIOR: “WE WILL FINISH THIS JOB”

Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said PTI will not be allowed to disrupt life in the capital whenever it wants.

"We will finish this job once and for all," Naqvi said.

Naqvi, who participated in the talks with PTI on behalf of the government, argued that the negotiations collapsed due to PTI's failure to cooperate on a common counter-terrorism policy against the increasing militant attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

PTI rejected this claim and claimed that the government was forcing the party to make concessions.

There has been an increase in armed attacks in recent months in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on the border with Afghanistan.

Naqvi and some government officials stated that the PTI-ruled state government could be dismissed through constitutional and legal means if it does not comply with the state's anti-terrorism policy.

While the march that started with the demand for the release of Imran Khan continued, all eyes turned to what attitude the government would take as the demonstrators approached Islamabad.