Thousands of supporters of Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan have embarked on a major protest march toward the capital, Islamabad, demanding his immediate release. The procession, which kicked off in the northwestern city of Lakki Marwat—roughly 275 kilometers from Islamabad—saw at least 5,000 demonstrators waving the red-and-green flags of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party before pausing overnight ahead of their planned push toward the capital.

The mobilization comes amid mounting alarms regarding the 73-year-old former leader’s deteriorating health behind bars. Family members have alleged that Khan has suffered severe vision loss in his right eye due to medical neglect by prison administrators. Sentenced to 14 years on corruption charges and embroiled in more than 100 legal cases ranging from graft to state secret leaks, the former cricket star maintains that all allegations against him are fabricated and politically motivated.

The march had initially been deferred to facilitate negotiations between the PTI and government authorities, but discussions collapsed after officials rejected key opposition demands. PTI representatives had called for direct access to Khan to confer on critical national issues and insisted on an immediate examination by specialists at a private hospital. In response to the planned protest, authorities in Islamabad have heavily fortified the capital’s perimeters, stacking massive shipping containers across major highways to block access routes.

Tensions remain high as provincial leaders from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa vow that the movement will spread to every corner of the country within days, while federal officials accuse the opposition of deliberately sabotaging stability. Meanwhile, international figures and former cricket colleagues have stepped up public appeals to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging humanitarian intervention and proper medical oversight for the former premier.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk