Major pro-Khan protest delayed in Pakistan

A protest planned in Pakistan to show support for former Prime Minister Imran Khan has been postponed by a week. The delay comes as authorities in Islamabad have blocked major routes leading into the capital, using shipping containers to obstruct traffic and public transit. The protest, which was set for Sunday, is now scheduled to begin on October 4 from Peshawar, according to Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

This decision was made as part of a strategy to wear down the federal government, Afridi stated. Police have deployed 22,000 security personnel to control access into and out of Islamabad, effectively closing off key highways, entry points, and major intersections. This preemptive crackdown also saw the arrest of Khan's sisters, Aleema Khan, Uzma Khan, and Noreen Niazi.

Khan, now 73, has been in custody since August 2023 and faces numerous charges, including corruption, treason, and incitement to violence, following violent riots in May 2023. Khan and his legal team deny the allegations, labeling them as politically motivated attempts to diminish his support.