Pakistan talks aimed at averting pro-Khan protest in ‘deadlock’

In Islamabad, authorities have blocked access routes to the capital with double-stacked shipping containers in anticipation of a protest by supporters of Imran Khan, the former prime minister now in jail. The planned protest, originally set for September 27 and delayed to Sunday, has stalled in talks between the government and Khan's political party, PTI.

Supporters of Khan's party, including Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, have declared the march will proceed as scheduled. The PTI has raised concerns over Khan's treatment, including medical care and visits from his family. The party has also demanded the release of Khan's three sisters, who were arrested recently.

Opposition politician Allama Raja Nasir Abbas stated that last-minute talks between the government and PTI representatives have reached a standstill, with key demands unmet. Khan, a former cricket star, has been incarcerated since August 2023 and faces numerous charges, including corruption and treason, with his legal team claiming the allegations are politically motivated.

Afridi announced that the demonstration would start in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday and proceed to Khairabad, located 80km west of Islamabad, with further stages of the plan to be revealed in Khairabad.