Thousands of supporters of Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan have joined a protest march led by a provincial chief minister, demanding his release from prison.
The march, organised by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, entered the northwestern city of Peshawar on Thursday (October 8), marking the fifth consecutive day of demonstrations.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi is leading the march, which began in Lakki Marwat on October 4 and has travelled through several districts.
Addressing supporters in Peshawar, Afridi urged them to remain determined in their campaign for what he described as “true freedom”.
“There might be some discomfort, but this pain is not greater than the pain Imran Khan sahib is enduring in jail for us,” he told the crowd.
The PTI initially announced plans to march towards Islamabad, but the party has since revised its route several times. Afridi said the next phase of the protest would be announced when the convoy reaches Swabi.
The federal government has warned the opposition party against holding protests or gatherings in Islamabad.
The demonstrations follow the breakdown of talks between the PTI and the federal government, with disagreements over counterterrorism policy among the main issues.
Meanwhile, mobile phone and internet services were temporarily suspended in parts of Peshawar as the march approached the city.
An official from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority confirmed to Dawn that the suspension had been ordered by higher authorities as a security precaution.
Several private schools in Peshawar also remained closed, although education authorities said they had not ordered the closures.
The protests have also triggered a legal challenge against Afridi.
The Peshawar High Court has sought a response from the chief minister over allegations that he used a government helicopter to travel to the starting point of the march, potentially violating an earlier court order prohibiting the use of public resources for political activities.
Separately, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said the party remained open to dialogue with the government and called for political disputes to be resolved through constitutional and democratic means.
He also raised concerns about the alleged disappearances of party members and rejected suggestions that emergency powers or governor’s rule should be imposed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Imran Khan, who served as Pakistan’s prime minister from 2018 until his removal through a parliamentary no-confidence vote in 2022, has been imprisoned since August 2023.
His party has repeatedly demanded his release and challenged the legal proceedings against him.
The PTI has announced further gatherings in Mardan on October 10 and Swabi on October 11, where party leaders are expected to decide the next phase of their campaign.
Source: Dawn, October 8, 2026.
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