‘Source of anxiety’: Pakistan cracks down before march to free Imran Khan | Imran Khan
Motorway Closed Amid Planned Protests in Islamabad
Islamabad, Pakistan — Authorities have closed key roadways linking Pakistan’s capital with Peshawar and other regions as security measures are heightened ahead of planned protests demanding the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. According to a police notification, the motorway connecting Islamabad to Peshawar is closed indefinitely, along with the highway to Dera Ismail Khan, the Hazara motorway, and the Grand Trunk Road near Attock.
The closures coincide with a planned march on Sunday, September 27, by Khan’s supporters, who are rallying to protest his detention and to advocate for his release. Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party governs Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the province at the center of this political unrest.
The motorway from Lahore, located approximately 375 kilometers southeast of Islamabad, remains operational. In the capital, city workers have utilized shipping containers filled with gravel and sand to create barriers and prevent the movement of protesters. Numerous educational institutions have suspended operations to accommodate police personnel brought in from Punjab and Sindh for crowd control.
Local media estimates suggest the planned march could attract between 20,000 and 25,000 participants. While other opposition groups, such as Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), have planned their own protests, they have not faced the extensive security measures that PTI has encountered. Following a conversation between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and JI leadership, JI postponed its march, in contrast to PTI, which has seen no such outreach from the government.
Recent developments include the detention of Khan’s three sisters, all over the age of 65, and the arrest of at least six PTI lawmakers in Islamabad. These detentions were executed under a 1960 public order law permitting preventive arrests without formal charges. PTI representatives have stated that the actual number of arrested members is likely higher, indicating that one lawmaker has been unaccounted for since being taken from parliament lodgings.
Imran Khan has been incarcerated since August 2023, and his party has noted a decline in organized protests outside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, asserting that the government’s heavy-handed response underscores its anxiety regarding the potential impact of PTI’s march.
Security measures in Islamabad are significant, with reports indicating the placement of over 2,000 containers and the deployment of 19,000 police officers. The Attorney General has defended these actions as precautionary, aiming to sustain normalcy in city operations, despite widespread criticism.
Significant tensions stem from a recent attack on a police facility in Kohat, which resulted in over 20 fatalities, and the deaths of six soldiers in related conflicts. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has linked these issues to the upcoming protests, framing the situation as a serious security concern.
As the political climate continues to escalate, government officials have highlighted potential risks associated with the planned march. Naqvi remarked that the government is preparing a comprehensive response to ensure order, diverging from past instances of prolonged protests.
Violence surrounding PTI’s previous demonstrations has raised alarms, including an incident in May 2023 following a temporary arrest of Khan, where supporters attacked military sites. The government has mounted significant defenses in anticipation of hostility amid ongoing economic issues, particularly rising fuel costs.
In March 2025, army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir emphasized a need for a firm response to domestic security challenges. Multiple analysts suggest the government’s strict handling of demonstrations reflects a broader anxiety regarding the stability of its political mandate and public sentiment, particularly in light of ongoing economic hardships.
