Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the political party led by former Prime Minister Imran Khan, has announced plans to proceed with a nationwide protest calling for Khan’s release from prison. The demonstration is scheduled to begin on October 4, following a brief postponement from its initially planned start date of late September.

Khan has been held in custody since 2023 on corruption charges, a situation that has raised concerns among his supporters regarding his treatment while incarcerated. The PTI’s decision to resume the march reflects growing tensions between the party and the current government.

In response, authorities have deployed tens of thousands of police officers to Islamabad in an effort to prevent the planned protests and maintain order in the capital. The government has not publicly commented in detail on the security measures but appears intent on forestalling large-scale demonstrations.

Last week, PTI leaders indicated that the postponement of the march was intended to pressure the government by prolonging the campaign against Khan’s detention. The party maintains that the protest is necessary to highlight what it describes as political victimization and a lack of due process in the handling of Khan’s case.

The government, however, has accused the PTI of attempting to destabilize the country through unrest and has warned against any activities that could disrupt public peace. Negotiations or dialogue between the two sides have not been reported, and the situation remains tense as the protest date approaches.