Pakistan’s main opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), began a long march toward Islamabad on Sunday after negotiations with the federal government over the party founder Imran Khan collapsed. The protest convoy departed from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, under the leadership of the province’s Chief Minister, Sohail Afridi, and is expected to travel through several districts before reaching Khairabad on October 8, where the next phase of the movement will be announced.
Afridi declared that the provincial government would continue to follow only the vision and policies of former prime minister Imran Khan, rejecting any possibility of governor’s rule or emergency measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He accused unnamed decision‑makers of attempting to impose policies against the interests of the Pashtun people and claimed that PTI’s government had already presented a clear strategy to restore peace and combat terrorism, arguing that stability could return within 100 days if the federal government implemented the recommendations.
The talks stalled because the government wanted PTI to cancel the planned protest before discussing Khan’s access, while PTI insisted that a meeting with the former prime minister must take place before any decision on calling off the march. PTI’s demands also included immediate access to jailed party founder Imran Khan, his transfer to a hospital for examination by his personal doctors, improved medical treatment for his wife Bushra Bibi, and the release of supporters and family members detained ahead of the protest. Disagreements over counter‑terrorism policies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa further contributed to the impasse.
Federal Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry said the negotiations failed largely because the provincial government could not assure the Centre of its full cooperation in operations against terrorism. The federal government has strengthened security around Islamabad, deploying additional personnel and placing shipping containers on major roads leading to the capital, and has warned that protesters would not be allowed to enter the city. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also warned that the government would strictly enforce court orders and held Afridi responsible for any loss of life arising from the ongoing political confrontation.
