Supporters of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, the country's main political opposition, started the march in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, with thousands aiming to arrive in the capital later this week. The protests represent one of the most serious political challenges the government has faced in months.
The demonstrators are calling for Khan's release after he has been imprisoned for more than three years. Khan's allies describe the charges against him, including corruption, as politically motivated. While large protests followed Khan's arrest in August 2023 and the widely criticized February 2024 elections, the streets have been relatively quiet since, with repressive conditions and the arrest of many PTI leaders making mobilization difficult.
Government negotiations with the PTI to avert the march have failed. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged the PTI to call off the march and resolve issues through dialogue. When protests have gone ahead in the past, including in Islamabad in November 2024, the state has responded with force.
Concerns over Khan's health have added urgency to the protests. According to his family, his health is worsening. Pakistan flouted a Supreme Court ruling ordering him to be transferred to a private medical facility for examination in August, instead bringing him to a public hospital for only a brief stay. Family members also say they are not allowed to visit Khan, while his two UK-based sons say the government has refused to process their visas.