Pakistan on Sunday (October 4, 2026) braced for a protest by supporters of jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf after it decided to proceed with a long march following the failure of negotiations with the government.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had announced plans for a long march to Islamabad on September 27, but later postponed it to October 4 amid government measures to prevent the protest. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced at 12:46 a.m. that the protest would go ahead.
Meanwhile, political adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Rana Sanaullah, said protesters would not be allowed to enter Islamabad.
Meanwhile, preparations were made to take Mr. Mr. His sister was present during the examination, while his personal physician, who had been waiting at Shifa, was not allowed to participate. Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, who was part of the federal government delegation that held discussions with Mr. The second round of talks remained deadlocked over access to Mr. PTI rejected that condition and wanted access to its jailed leader before deciding whether to call off the march.
Khan to Shifa International Hospital, but when he was moved from Adiala jail during the night of August 20-21, he was instead taken to the government-run Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS). Khan was examined at PIMS and the government said he was medically fit before he was returned to jail early on August 21. Earlier reporting noted: PTI had initially planned to start the long march on September 27 but postponed it to October 4 after the federal government introduced measures aimed at preventing the protest.
Because the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government could not assure the Centre that it would cooperate in the fight against terrorism in the province, khan’s party members, said on Sunday (October 4, 2026) that the talks failed primarily.
The government said the change was made on security grounds. Khan, with the government insisting that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf first announce the cancellation of the protest and that the issue of a meeting with its jailed leader would be decided later, according to sources. Earlier reporting noted: The government, however, insisted that PTI first cancel the protest before it would consider allowing its leaders to meet Khan, according to sources.
Earlier reporting noted: Pakistan’s opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party will proceed with its planned long march towards Islamabad after a second round of talks with the government ended without a deal on access to jailed former prime minister Imran Khan .
