PTI postpones Islamabad long march to Oct 4

PTI postpones Islamabad long march to Oct 4.

Key points

• News DeskIkram JunaidiUmer Farooq Published September 25, 2026 Updated September 25, 2026 10: 45pm.
• The federal administration on Thursday approved the deployment of Rangers in Islamabad and a number of districts of Punjab from Sept 20 to Oct 5.
• ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi remarked on Friday that the PTI's long march towards Islamabad.
• He called KP's PTI administration the Tehreek-I-Taliban Pakistan's (TTP) "B-team", and Tehreek-I-Taliban Afghanistan's (TTA) "C-team", claiming that it was facilitating the TTP while additionally "representing" the TTA.
• This person requested anonymity, had additionally informed Dawn that the march would now leave from Peshawar on Oct 4.

News DeskIkram JunaidiUmer Farooq Published September 25, 2026 Updated September 25, 2026 10: 45pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi remarked on Friday that the PTI's long march towards Islamabad. It was originally scheduled for Sept 27, would now commence from Peshawar on Oct 4.

Meanwhile, the announcement by the KP CM came during a press conference in Peshawar, where he remarked the PTI's political committee had held a gathering and "unanimously agreed" to now commence the march on Oct 4 from Peshawar.

"This struggle of ours is just for the supremacy of the Constitution, restoration of the independent judiciary, media freedom and Haqiqi Azadi, as envisioned by Imran Khan, " he continued.

In practice, the PTI has been gearing up for a nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad to press for the release of its founder, Imran Khan. This person is at present incarcerated in Rawalpindi's Adiala jail.

Afridi asserted that Imran would be out of jail within half an hour if justice was served. But, he rued, court directives were not being abided by, referring to court orders for Imran's medical treatment and meetings with his family.

"So when you are not heard even after adopting all legal and constitutional means, the Constitution allows you to protest peacefully, " he continued.

Afridi further condemned the documented arrests and detentions of PTI leaders and workers, including ministers. He alleged that Punjab authorities had been directed to take action in KP and denounced the authorities for placing containers and hammering nails on roads along the KP-Punjab boundary to block the march's route.

Coming back to the postponing of the march, he remarked the PTI workers "know that it is a Test match". He continued that the PTI's allies had additionally been informed of the party's decision.

Earlier in the day, against the backdrop of speculation that the march would be postponed, Afridi sounded resolute that the march would take place. Nevertheless, he did not specify at the time whether the protest would be delayed.

Notably, the PTI would hold the Islamabad march whether they hammer nails into the roads, place containers, or fire bullets, he remarked while addressing a press conference in Peshawar.

"The PTI will not step back from its demand for Imran Khan's release and medical treatment despite threats of arrests and governor's rule, " he continued.

Earlier, a senior PTI leader. This person requested anonymity, had additionally informed Dawn that the march would now leave from Peshawar on Oct 4.

"There was a proposal to exhaust the federal government and law enforcement agencies, as they have already closed down the federal capital and a number of routes, " he remarked.

In practice, the leader asserted that the PTI had already achieved what it wanted to do via the march.

"They have closed down roads and are spending hundreds of millions on law enforcement, " he observed.

Asked if the PTI intended to march alongside the Jamaat-I-Islami (JI). It had postponed its own protest march against the petroleum levy on the request of the premier, the leader remarked that the decision had nothing to do with them.

"We are capable of arranging the march on our own, " he remarked.

For context, the development comes a day after a PTI leader had hinted at the possibility of postponing its protest march if the federal administration agreed to hold elections within six to eight months, release Imran and other political prisoners, and investigate the May 9 and November 26 crackdowns on the opposition party.

Advocate Naeem Haider Panjutha informed Dawn that the protest could be postponed if these three assurances were given by the administration.

Party spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram, nevertheless, had denied any such proposal was being discussed at any party forum, saying only Imran could take a decision even if such a proposal was on the table.

Meanwhile, preparations in the Rawalpindi Division and the federal capital territory to maintain security and accord with any emergency situation have been in full swing in light of the potential long march and other protests in Islamabad.

Punjab has already imposed a ban on gatherings throughout the province for 13 days and prohibited inciting residents to "unlawful assembly". A similar ban under Section 144 has been enforced in Islamabad for two months.

Meanwhile, the Punjab administration has additionally sent a letter to the interior ministry requesting mobile and internet services at specific locations in Rawalpindi and Attock to be downgraded or jammed on Sept 27.

Meanwhile, the federal administration on Thursday approved the deployment of Rangers in Islamabad and a number of districts of Punjab from Sept 20 to Oct 5.

"The deployed troops may respond appropriately in self-defence to any threats or violent activities encountered in the course of their duties as per rules/regulations in vogue, " the notification stated. HRCP urges govt to de-escalate political tensions.

All three of Imran's sisters – Uzma Khan, Noreen Khan and Aleema Khan – have been detained and there have additionally been reports of the arrests of PTI members and workers.

Notably, the Human Right Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) remarked in an official note on Friday that it "deplores the mounting arrests and preventive detention of PTI workers, lawmakers and leaders ahead of the party's planned protest march".

Reports indicated that scores of workers, including women, had been arbitrarily detained, with some families claiming that they had no information as to the whereabouts of their relatives, the HRCP remarked.

It continued that it was "incumbent on the state to uphold the right to peaceful assembly for all citizens".

Pre-emptive mass detention and restrictions on freedom of movement cannot be justified as proportionate or necessary. Moreover, repeated blanket restrictions, including the imposition of Section 144, are an affront to democratic principles.

"We urge the government to de-escalate political tensions by resuming a purposeful dialogue with the opposition and to immediately release those who have been arbitrarily detained, " the HRCP remarked. Tarar takes aim at KP govt for 'facilitating terrorism'.

As political tensions persist between the PTI and the federal administration, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar continued his criticism of the party and the KP administration on Friday.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he accused the KP administration of avoiding to take steps to maintain law and order in the province.

He alleged that they additionally provided "full facilitation" to terrorists and called their policy on law and order "evasive".

"In one way or another, terrorists have attacked all political parties in KP, " the minister remarked.

"But the PTI is held in high regard by terrorists. And not only do they avoid condemning terrorists, but they additionally fully avoid taking any sort of action against them. Facilitating terrorists is part of their policy."

He additionally took aim at KP CM Afridi specifically, saying he "looks less like a chief minister and more like a TTP commander, in both his words and actions".

Taken together, the developments around PTI postpones Islamabad long march to Oct 4 point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.