PTI Postpones Islamabad Long March to October 4 Amid Rising Political Tensions

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has postponed its planned Islamabad long march from September 27 to October 4, citing the need to continue its political campaign for constitutional supremacy, judicial independence, media freedom and what it calls “Haqiqi Azadi.”

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced the decision in Peshawar, saying PTI’s political committee had unanimously agreed to begin the march from Peshawar on October 4. Afridi said the campaign would continue in line with former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s political vision.

Afridi also criticised the government over Imran Khan’s imprisonment and claimed that Khan could be released quickly if court decisions and constitutional principles were properly implemented. He alleged that orders concerning Khan’s medical treatment and meetings with his family had not been followed.

According to Afridi, PTI had exhausted available legal options and therefore had the constitutional right to organise peaceful political protests. He condemned the arrests and preventive detention of PTI leaders, workers and ministers, while also criticising the deployment of containers and other obstacles along roads connecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

Afridi described the campaign as a “Test match”, suggesting that the party was prepared for a prolonged political struggle. He also said PTI’s allies had been informed about the postponement.

A senior PTI leader, speaking anonymously, said the decision was aimed at putting pressure on the federal government and security forces, which had already deployed significant resources to restrict access to Islamabad. According to the leader, PTI believed it had already achieved part of its immediate objective by forcing the government to commit substantial security and administrative resources.

The postponement came amid uncertainty over PTI’s political demands. A day earlier, PTI leader Naeem Haider Panjutha had suggested that the march could potentially be delayed if the government agreed to hold elections within six to eight months, release Imran Khan and other political prisoners, and investigate the May 9 and November 26 crackdowns.

However, PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram denied that such a proposal had been formally discussed, maintaining that only Imran Khan could make the final decision on the matter.

The government has meanwhile introduced extensive security restrictions ahead of the planned protest. Punjab has imposed a 13-day ban on public gatherings and prohibited incitement to unlawful assembly, while Islamabad remains under a two-month Section 144 order.

Punjab authorities have also sought temporary restrictions on mobile and internet services in parts of Rawalpindi and Attock. The federal government has authorised the deployment of Rangers in Islamabad and several Punjab districts until October 5, with personnel permitted to respond in self-defence.

Human rights concerns have also emerged over the government's response. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) criticised the arrests and preventive detention of PTI workers and leaders, including Imran Khan’s three sisters. The organisation said that some families were reportedly unaware of the whereabouts of detained relatives.

The HRCP argued that mass preventive detention and repeated blanket restrictions under Section 144 could not be justified as proportionate measures and called for dialogue between the government and opposition, as well as the release of people it considered to have been detained arbitrarily.

The government has strongly defended its position. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government of failing to maintain law and order and alleged that it was facilitating militant groups.

Tarar described the KP government as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan’s “B-team” and the Afghan Taliban’s “C-team”. He also criticised Sohail Afridi personally and linked the provincial government's political activities to the wider security situation in the province.

According to Tarar, KP had witnessed 2,456 terror attacks during the year, with 472 security personnel killed and more than 1,500 people injured. He accused the provincial government of prioritising political confrontation and alleged the existence of networks that financially benefit militant activity.

With the march now scheduled for October 4, political tensions are likely to remain high. PTI says the protest is aimed at defending constitutional rights and securing political demands, while the federal government presents the mobilisation as a threat to public order and national security.

The coming days will determine whether the two sides move towards further confrontation or whether political dialogue can prevent another major escalation.