Pakistan seals off Islamabad ahead of new protest march
The government is deploying thousands of additional security personnel and containers for a march by supporters of Imran Khan.
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Pakistan has restricted access to Islamabad ahead of a protest march by the party of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan. Major roads have been closed and containers have been placed around the government district.
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Imran Khan’s party, wants to march to Islamabad on Sunday 27 September. The party is demanding, among other things, Khan’s release and better access to medical care and family visits. The government says the demonstration must not disrupt public life and has sharply increased security measures in advance.
According to Reuters, almost 35,000 additional police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in and around the capital. Two major roads between Islamabad and the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been closed. In the government district, where the parliament, the prime minister’s official residence and foreign embassies are located, containers have been placed as barricades.
According to reports, the authorities have detained hundreds of activists in recent days. Three of Khan’s sisters were also arrested. The government cites public order in doing so. Khan’s party says the march will go ahead despite the blockades.
The protests are taking place against a backdrop of prolonged political tensions. Khan was removed as prime minister in 2022 after a vote of no confidence and has been in prison since 2023. He calls himself a political prisoner. The army denies that characterisation and has considerable influence over political relations in Pakistan.
The government says the planned march is illegal and that police will intervene if the demonstration turns violent. Khan’s party says it is exercising its right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression. According to Al Jazeera, Amnesty International has criticised the arrests of relatives and party activists.
How large the march will be and whether it will lead to confrontations was still unclear on Saturday morning. The deployment of so many personnel and the closure of access roads point to serious concerns among the authorities. At the same time, the blockades could further increase tensions, especially now that inflation and high fuel prices have broadened discontent beyond Khan’s support base.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- The PTI has announced a march to Islamabad.
- The government has closed roads, placed containers and deployed additional security personnel.
- The outcome of the march was still unknown at the time of publication.
Left
Arguments The blockades and arrests undermine the right to protest and strengthen the power of the army and government. Political opponents and family members must not be silenced through security laws.
Values Civil rights, democratic oversight and freedom of expression.
Consequences A heavy-handed response could radicalise the opposition and further damage confidence in elections.
Centre
Arguments The state must safeguard order and security, but only through proportionate measures, judicial scrutiny and room for peaceful protest. Both the government and demonstrators must avoid escalation.
Values The rule of law, public order and institutional stability.
Consequences A controlled demonstration could create space for dialogue; broad blockades could instead cause new tensions.
Right
Arguments The government has a duty to protect the capital, embassies and residents when previous protests have descended into disorder. A party must not hold the country hostage with a march that blocks roads and government buildings.
Values Security, state authority and continuity of government.
Consequences Preventive measures can prevent violence, but lose legitimacy if they also target peaceful opponents.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The text is based on two public sources that describe the same core facts. Positions and allegations are consistently attributed to the government, PTI or Amnesty International.
- confirmed The PTI is planning a march to Islamabad on 27 September. — Reuters and Al Jazeera name the planned date and party. source
- confirmed Almost 35,000 additional police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed. — Reuters cites an official from the Ministry of Interior for this figure. source
- confirmed Two major roads have been closed and containers have been placed around the government district. — Described by Reuters and Al Jazeera. source
- confirmed Three of Khan’s sisters and hundreds of activists have been detained. — Reuters reports these arrests; Al Jazeera likewise describes the arrest of three sisters. source
Editor's note
The announced march, the security measures, arrests and positions of the government and PTI have been described by Reuters and Al Jazeera. The outcome of the day of protest and any confrontations were still uncertain at the time of writing.Sources
- Pakistan tightens security ahead of march planned by Imran Khan's party — Reuters via MarketScreener
- حاويات شحن وآلاف الجنود.. باكستان تستنفر ضد احتجاجات أنصار عمران خان — Al Jazeera
More on this in Dutch media
- RTL Nieuws — „pakistan islamabad”
- NOS — „pakistan islamabad”
- Het Parool — „pakistan islamabad”