Thousands of supporters of Pakistan's jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan have begun marching to the capital Islamabad, calling for his release. The march, which started in Lakki Marwat, a city 275km away from Islamabad, paused for the night and was expected to resume on Monday. Khan, a 73-year-old cricket star-turned-politician, faces charges in over 100 cases and was jailed for 17 years over corruption last year. His family claims he has lost most of his vision in his right eye after prison authorities failed to take action.
Khan's health has been a growing concern in recent months, with his family and supporters demanding immediate medical attention. His wife, Bushra Bibi, was also jailed along with him last year. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by Khan, said talks with the government failed because authorities rejected the party's request for access to Khan so that its leaders could consult him on national and political issues. The party also demanded that Khan be given an immediate medical examination and treatment.
Authorities in Islamabad have taken measures to block key access routes to the capital city, stacking up shipping containers to prevent the march from reaching its destination. Sohail Afridi, chief minister for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province ruled by PTI, expects that the march will make its way to a town about 80km west of Islamabad by Thursday. He urged the people to "play an active role in the political process" and predicted that the movement would reach every corner of the country.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused Afridi of "sabotaging" negotiations, saying the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had backed out of earlier commitments on counter-terrorism issues. Khan was briefly transferred from jail to a state-run hospital for medical examination and treatment in August following complaints about his deteriorating health. However, doctors later deemed him "medically fit". Khan's family and the PTI criticised the authorities for defying a court order that he be examined by physicians at a specific private hospital.
Khan's sister, Aleema Khanum, was arrested in the eastern city of Lahore on September 20. 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". Khan previously captained the Pakistan national cricket team and served as the country's prime minister from 2018 to 2022. His arrest in May 2023 sparked large-scale, violent protests by supporters.
At least eight people died in the protests, and the army had to be called in to quell the violence. Former international cricket captains have made several appeals in recent months to Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging Khan to be accorded proper medical care. The march, originally scheduled for last week, was postponed to allow for talks between the government and Khan's PTI party, but the talks ended in a deadlock.
The demonstrations in support of Khan have led to deadly violence and crackdowns in the past. Khan claims that all the cases against him are politically motivated. The PTI party said it would continue to demand Khan's release and proper medical attention, amid growing concerns over his health. The situation remains tense as the march is expected to continue towards Islamabad.
Key points
- Thousands of supporters of Imran Khan march to Islamabad, calling for his release amid concerns over his health.
- Khan's family claims he has lost most of his vision in his right eye after prison authorities failed to take action.
- Authorities in Islamabad have taken measures to block key access routes to the capital city, stacking up shipping containers to prevent the march from reaching its destination.
