Imran Khan supporters march on
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LAKKI MARWAT, Pakistan - A protest demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan took to the streets on Sunday, following talks to prevent the event failing. The demonstration by supporters of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party started in the northwest of the country after being postponed from September 27. In Lakki Marwat, a city governed by PTI, thousands of protesters, many carrying red-and-green opposition party flags, marched through the streets.
A large billboard attached to a truck displayed the message "Release Imran Khan" alongside a smiling image of him.
Earlier, videos shared by PTI on their official social media platforms showed supporters in various regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa gathering and forming convoys for the long march. Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi, confirmed to X that the demonstration supporting Khan would proceed. However, discontent over Khan's imprisonment has grown recently, particularly due to his medical care and limited access to doctors and family members.
PTI has also urged for the release of Khan's three sisters, who were arrested last month, intensifying the situation.
PTI representatives and the government engaged in last-minute negotiations, yet they reached a stalemate. Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, an opposition politician, stated that the talks had hit an impasse over demands, including access to Khan by his physician. Khan, a former cricket star, has been incarcerated since August 2023 and faces numerous charges, including corruption, treason, and incitement to violence.
Khan and his legal team dispute the accusations, labeling them as politically motivated attempts to diminish his influence. Geopolitics expert Tim Willasey-Wilsey stated that the protests are primarily driven by economic factors, as the war in Iran influences fuel prices in Pakistan and rising food costs due to the conflict in Ukraine.
Day-to-day life has become increasingly difficult for ordinary Pakistanis in recent years, according to Willasey-Wilsey, a senior fellow at the UK-based Royal United Services Institute. He added that Imran Khan has become the symbol of all opposition to the government.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
