PTI starts Islamabad march after Imran Khan talks with Pakistan government fail

PTI launched its march towards Islamabad after weekend talks with the federal government collapsed. The standoff has sharpened around Imran Khan's access, protest restrictions and security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In Short

• Negotiations collapsed after both sides disagreed on access to jailed Khan
• PTI demanded medical checks, supporter releases and legal relief for detainees
• Federal ministers said protesters would be stopped from entering Islamabad

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf on Sunday began its long march towards Islamabad from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after talks with the federal government ended without an agreement. The negotiations had focused on the party's demands, including access to jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, his transfer to a hospital where his personal doctors could examine him, and the release of party supporters arrested ahead of the protest.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi set off from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat, accompanied by provincial PTI president Junaid Akbar Khan, the party said. Afridi said he would announce the next course of action when the convoy reached Khairabad on October 8, while the federal government made it clear that protesters would not be allowed to enter Islamabad.

Addressing supporters at Gandi Chowk, Afridi said his government would not accept any policy that harmed the interests of the Pashtun people and that only Imran Khan's "vision and policies" would be followed in the province. "This is Imran Khan's government and only Imran Khan's vision and policy will prevail here," he said. He also said the party rejected both governor's rule and emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding, "Only Imran Khan's rule will prevail in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa." Afridi thanked the Pashtuns for their support and said PTI's negotiating committee had gone to Islamabad a day earlier to help reduce political tensions.

Afridi alleged that a "mindset that takes decisions behind closed doors" was preparing to impose another decision on the people and said PTI would resist any such move. He also alleged that the same "mindset" imposed on the country for 79 years was now trying to impose another policy of military operations on the people. He said the provincial government had given the Centre a "clear policy" to restore peace in the province and that peace could return within 100 days if it was implemented. "But there must be an intention for peace. Their intention is not peace; they intend to eliminate PTI, but even their father cannot do that," he said. He further alleged that terrorism had again been imposed on the country after the "regime change", saying, "They started this fire, and we will put it out." Afridi also predicted a "sea of people" in Karak and said millions would join the march by the time it reached Swabi, adding that the movement for "real freedom" would spread to every corner of the country.

The first round of talks between the government and PTI was held on Friday, with both sides exchanging positions and agreeing to continue, but without a breakthrough. A second round began shortly before 5 pm on Saturday and continued for several hours before ending in a deadlock early Sunday. PTI had sought Khan's transfer to a hospital, while the government wanted the party to call off its October 4 protest. According to sources, the second round remained stuck over access to Khan, with the government insisting that PTI first announce the cancellation of the protest and that the issue of a meeting with its jailed leader would be decided later. PTI, however, demanded a meeting with Khan before deciding on the protest. Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan leader and Senate Opposition Leader Allama Nasir Abbas said the talks remained unresolved over both terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and access to Khan, including for his personal physician. Pakistan Peoples Party leader Sherry Rehman said the government delegation had discussed all the opposition's points but claimed the draft agreement was changed four times after it had been agreed upon, though she said she would not go into details.

Pakistan's Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry said on Sunday that the talks failed mainly because the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government could not assure the Centre that it would cooperate in the fight against terrorism in the province. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which is governed by PTI, has long faced militant violence, particularly from the Pakistani Taliban, with militants operating across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and carrying out attacks. Khan, the 73-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician, has been in jail since 2023 and faces more than 100 cases, including corruption and charges related to inciting violence. He is lodged at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. His party has also demanded the release of his sisters and supporters arrested ahead of the protest, a proper medical check-up for his wife Bushra Bibi, and hearings in their cases without interference. On August 18, Pakistan's Supreme Court ordered that Khan be shifted to a private hospital in Islamabad for medical examination and treatment after concerns over his health, particularly his eyesight. The government challenged that order and later filed a review petition.

Afridi said on X that supporters from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat would join the march from Gandi Chowk at 1 pm on Sunday. The caravan is scheduled to halt for the night near Karak, leave at 12.30 pm the next day and stay overnight near Kohat. On October 6, protesters from Kohat, Hangu, Kurram and Orakzai are to join the convoy before it moves towards Peshawar and halts near Mattani. On October 7, the caravan is to leave Budh Bair in Peshawar, with the remaining constituencies of Peshawar joining at Kohat Road Bridge and the Motorway Toll Plaza before the group stays near Charsadda Interchange. On October 8, people from Charsadda and Mohmand are to join before the convoy heads to Khairabad, where, Afridi said, people from across KP would gather. He did not announce the final leg to Islamabad.

Meanwhile, political adviser to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Rana Sanaullah said protesters would not be allowed into Islamabad. The federal government has already deployed additional security personnel and placed shipping containers on roads leading to the capital. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, speaking at a press conference in Lahore, said four different drafts were exchanged during 12 hours of negotiations and warned Afridi that he would be held responsible if anyone died during the standoff. "If even a single life is lost, Sohail Afridi will be responsible," Naqvi said, adding that the government would not allow any violation of court orders and would implement whatever decision was taken by the president and the prime minister. With the talks deadlocked and the march now under way, the standoff between PTI and the federal government has moved from the negotiating table to the road.

With PTI Inputs

- Ends