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 talks focused on key demands of Mr. Khan’s party, including an immediate meeting with its jailed founder and his transfer to a hospital where his personal doctors could examine and treat him.

The first round of talks was held on Friday (October 2, 2026), with the two sides exchanging their positions and agreeing to continue negotiations, but without reaching an agreement.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf sought Mr. Khan’s transfer to a hospital, while the government wanted the party to call off its October 4 protest.

The second round of talks between government negotiators and Mr. Khan’s party leaders began shortly before 5 pm on Saturday (October 3, 2026) and continued for several hours before ending in a deadlock early Sunday (October 4, 2026).

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.

The 73-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician has been incarcerated since 2023 and faces more than 100 cases, including corruption and charges related to inciting violence. He is lodged at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

Mr. Khan’s party has also demanded the release of his sisters and supporters arrested ahead of the protest, a proper medical check-up for Mr. Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, and that their cases be heard without interference.

On August 18, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered that Mr. Khan be shifted to a private hospital in Islamabad for medical examination and treatment following concerns over his health, particularly his eyesight.

The government challenged the order and later filed a review petition.

Meanwhile, preparations were made to take Mr. 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). The government said the change was made on security grounds.

Mr. Khan was examined at PIMS and the government said he was medically fit before he was returned to jail early on August 21. His sister was present during the examination, while his personal physician, who had been waiting at Shifa, was not allowed to participate.

Mr. Khan’s family and party colleagues objected, arguing that the government had failed to implement the Supreme Court’s order, and subsequently sought contempt proceedings against senior officials.

On September 16, however, the Supreme Court deferred the proceedings for three weeks after the Federal Constitutional Court summoned the records of cases concerning Mr. Khan’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital, leading to a dispute over the two courts’ respective jurisdiction.

The unresolved dispute over the implementation of the Supreme Court’s order has remained central to Mr. Khan’s supporters’ demand that he be treated at a private hospital by his own doctor.

Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, who was part of the federal government delegation that held discussions with Mr. Khan’s party members, said on Sunday (October 4, 2026) that the talks failed primarily because the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government could not assure the Centre that it would cooperate in the fight against terrorism in the province.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a northwestern province, is governed by Mr. Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, and the party’s planned long march is scheduled to begin from there.

The province has long faced militant violence, particularly from the Pakistani Taliban, with militants operating across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and carrying out attacks.

The second round of talks remained deadlocked over access to Mr. 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.

The party, however, demanded a meeting with Mr. Khan before deciding on the protest, the sources said.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced at 12:46 a.m. that the protest would go ahead.

He said in a message on X that party supporters from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bannu, and Lakki Marwat would join the long march from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat at 1 p.m. on Sunday (October 4, 2026).

The caravan will halt for the night near Karak, from where participants will depart at 12:30 p.m. the next day and stay overnight near Kohat.

At 12 p.m. on October 6, protesters from Kohat, Hangu, Kurram and Orakzai will join the convoy, which will move towards Peshawar and spend the night near Mattani.

Meanwhile, political adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Rana Sanaullah, said protesters would not be allowed to enter Islamabad.

The federal government had earlier deployed additional security personnel and placed shipping containers on roads leading to the capital to prevent the protesters from entering Islamabad.

Published – October 04, 2026 02:17 pm IST

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 talks focused on key demands of Mr. Khan’s party, including an immediate meeting with its jailed founder and his transfer to a hospital where his personal doctors could examine and treat him.

The first round of talks was held on Friday (October 2, 2026), with the two sides exchanging their positions and agreeing to continue negotiations, but without reaching an agreement.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf sought Mr. Khan’s transfer to a hospital, while the government wanted the party to call off its October 4 protest.

The second round of talks between government negotiators and Mr. Khan’s party leaders began shortly before 5 pm on Saturday (October 3, 2026) and continued for several hours before ending in a deadlock early Sunday (October 4, 2026).

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.

The 73-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician has been incarcerated since 2023 and faces more than 100 cases, including corruption and charges related to inciting violence. He is lodged at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

Mr. Khan’s party has also demanded the release of his sisters and supporters arrested ahead of the protest, a proper medical check-up for Mr. Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi, and that their cases be heard without interference.

On August 18, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered that Mr. Khan be shifted to a private hospital in Islamabad for medical examination and treatment following concerns over his health, particularly his eyesight.

The government challenged the order and later filed a review petition.

Meanwhile, preparations were made to take Mr. 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). The government said the change was made on security grounds.

Mr. Khan was examined at PIMS and the government said he was medically fit before he was returned to jail early on August 21. His sister was present during the examination, while his personal physician, who had been waiting at Shifa, was not allowed to participate.

Mr. Khan’s family and party colleagues objected, arguing that the government had failed to implement the Supreme Court’s order, and subsequently sought contempt proceedings against senior officials.

On September 16, however, the Supreme Court deferred the proceedings for three weeks after the Federal Constitutional Court summoned the records of cases concerning Mr. Khan’s transfer to Shifa International Hospital, leading to a dispute over the two courts’ respective jurisdiction.

The unresolved dispute over the implementation of the Supreme Court’s order has remained central to Mr. Khan’s supporters’ demand that he be treated at a private hospital by his own doctor.

Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, who was part of the federal government delegation that held discussions with Mr. Khan’s party members, said on Sunday (October 4, 2026) that the talks failed primarily because the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government could not assure the Centre that it would cooperate in the fight against terrorism in the province.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a northwestern province, is governed by Mr. Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, and the party’s planned long march is scheduled to begin from there.

The province has long faced militant violence, particularly from the Pakistani Taliban, with militants operating across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border and carrying out attacks.

The second round of talks remained deadlocked over access to Mr. 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.

The party, however, demanded a meeting with Mr. Khan before deciding on the protest, the sources said.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced at 12:46 a.m. that the protest would go ahead.

He said in a message on X that party supporters from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bannu, and Lakki Marwat would join the long march from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat at 1 p.m. on Sunday (October 4, 2026).

The caravan will halt for the night near Karak, from where participants will depart at 12:30 p.m. the next day and stay overnight near Kohat.

At 12 p.m. on October 6, protesters from Kohat, Hangu, Kurram and Orakzai will join the convoy, which will move towards Peshawar and spend the night near Mattani.

Meanwhile, political adviser to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Rana Sanaullah, said protesters would not be allowed to enter Islamabad.

The federal government had earlier deployed additional security personnel and placed shipping containers on roads leading to the capital to prevent the protesters from entering Islamabad.

Published – October 04, 2026 02:17 pm IST

Four paramilitary personnel and two policemen have been killed and over 100 security personnel injured as the protest by supporters of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan turned violent prompting the federal government to deploy the army in the Islamabad along with shoot at sight orders on Tuesday (November 26, 2024), state-run media said.

Pakistan deployed the army amid a tense stand-off with Mr. Khan’s supporters from his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) pushing forward by removing hurdles on their way to Islamabad’s D-Chowk venue as the government vowed to foil their attempt “even if a curfew needs to be imposed.” Radio Pakistan said a vehicle rammed into Pakistan Rangers personnel killing four Rangers officials on the Srinagar Highway in Islamabad late on Monday night. Five other Rangers personnel and several police officials too sustained severe injuries.

About five kilometres from this spot, a bunch of miscreants, equipped with weapons and ammunition, pelted stones on the Rangers personnel and carried out indiscriminate firing on the security personnel at Chungi No 26 in Rawalpindi, Radio Pakistan said.

It also reported that two policemen were killed but didn’t provide any details.

According to Punjab police, one policeman was killed at Hakla interchange on Islamabad outskirts during clashes with the PTI protestors on Monday but it also did not give details about the second policeman.

Separately, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said, at a late night media interaction, that more than one hundred security personnel, mostly from police, were injured and added: “One senior police officer (SP) was critically injured — he suffered a severe head injury -— due to stone-pelting by protesters.” Radio Pakistan further reported that the Pakistan Army was called in “to deal with the miscreants with an iron hand” and “clear orders have also been issued to shoot miscreants and troublemakers on sight.” Strongly condemning the attack on Rangers and police personnel by protesters, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in a statement, directed to immediately identify those involved in the incident and ensure they are brought to justice.

“Attacks on police and Rangers, under the guise of a so-called peaceful protest, are condemnable,” he said, adding, the anarchist group seeks bloodshed and “Pakistan cannot afford any form of chaos or bloodshed. Bloodshed for nefarious political agenda is unacceptable and highly condemnable.” He also instructed to provide the best possible medical facilities to those injured.

Interior Minister Naqvi said the government had offered an alternative venue to the protestors to stage their activity at Sangjani in the suburbs of the capital and apparently Khan has also agreed to it.

Despite permission given by Khan, “maybe there is a leadership above Imran Khan who has refused to accept this,” he claimed and confirmed that talks were going on with the PTI to resolve the issue and that the PTI leaders were allowed to meet Khan twice on Monday to get his input.

The government is waiting for a formal response to its offer of an alternative venue for protest and “we are now waiting for PTI’s response before taking further steps,” Naqvi added.

Naqvi also warned that “come what may, the PTI would not be allowed to stage a protest at D Chowk and even hinted of imposing a curfew if needed.”

Security sources also said that all necessary measures are being taken to counter terrorist activities by disruptive and extremist elements. “All the miscreants are also being identified to bring them to justice,” the sources added.

Meanwhile, the PTI accused the authorities of using violence in which several of its supporters have been injured. A PTI spokesman told BBC Urdu that at least two supporters have also been killed but it was not confirmed from other sources so far.

Mr. Khan, 72, the PTI founder, has been in jail since August 5, 2023, and had given the ‘final call’ for the protest to force the authorities to release all prisoners, including himself, and also restore the alleged stolen mandate or victory of his party in February 8 elections as well as rescind the last month’s 26th constitutional amendment allowing the government more powers over judiciary.

Earlier on Sunday, led by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, the PTI supporters began their journey from the militancy-hit province with a mission to make it to D-Chowk in the national capital but faced obstacles on the roads.

The D-Chowk, close to several important government buildings: the Presidency, the PM Office, the Parliament, and the Supreme Court, is a prime location in the national capital.

The authorities had blocked the highways by placing shipping containers but the protestors accompanied by lifting equipment and other heavy machines worked their way by removing hurdles, but the hurdles did skittle their speed and plans.

The convoy entered Islamabad from Sangjani toll plaza. The party also shared footage of the KP convoy in Islamabad’s limits.

The government already banned rallies by imposing Section 144, a colonial era law used to outlaw political activities, as a high level delegation from Belarus was visiting Pakistan.

At least one policeman was killed and dozen others injured in clashes on Monday as thousands of the PTI protestors entered the territorial jurisdiction of the national capital. In one of the clashes, a policeman was killed at the Hakla interchange on Islamabad outskirts.

Another constable of the Sargodha police was injured due to “firing by miscreants” and was being treated, local media said, adding, dozens of other policemen too were injured in the clashes, but exact details were not available.

As the convoy entered the capital territory in the evening, Bushra Bibi said in a video message: “My brothers, as long as Imran is not with us, we will not end this march.” Meanwhile, as announced on Monday, all public and private educational institutions would remain closed in view of the law and order situation both at Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Tuesday.

Khan has been implicated in dozens of cases since his government was dismissed through a no-confidence motion in 2022. He has been in Adiala Jail at Rawalpindi since last year facing over 200 cases.

His party won the largest number of seats in the February general elections despite contesting as independents as the party was denied an election symbol. The party founder has alleged that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its coalition partners, including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), had “stolen the mandate” to grab power at the federal level.