Peshawar/Islamabad — September 22, 2026 | PK News

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has confirmed that it will proceed with its planned September 27 long march toward Islamabad, despite a growing number of arrests and warnings from government authorities.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the party would continue exercising what it describes as its constitutional right to peaceful protest, while PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan called on authorities to reconsider their approach toward party workers and political leaders.

The announcement comes amid heightened political tensions across the country and increased security preparations ahead of the planned demonstration.

PTI Says Protest Will Go Ahead

Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar, Afridi said PTI had decided to proceed with the Islamabad protest despite pressure on its workers and leadership.

He said the party had attempted to raise its concerns through the provincial and national assemblies but claimed it had not received a satisfactory response.

PTI has said the September 27 mobilisation is intended to demand the release of party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, along with what the party describes as greater respect for constitutional rights.

The party has also stated that the demonstration will remain peaceful.

Gohar Calls for a Change in Approach

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan urged the authorities to reconsider their handling of PTI supporters.

According to Gohar, approximately 1,500 PTI workers have been detained in connection with preparations for the planned protest.

He also claimed that several lawmakers and party figures had been taken into custody.

The figure of 1,500 is a PTI claim and should not be treated as an independently verified nationwide total. Dawn reported that PTI had provided details of arrests involving workers and lawmakers in several locations, while authorities have separately announced preventive detention measures in some districts.

Gohar called for dialogue and said the situation could improve if both sides engaged with each other rather than escalating tensions.

Arrests Increase Ahead of the March

The political confrontation intensified after the detention of members of Imran Khan's family.

Imran Khan's sister Aleema Khan was detained in Lahore under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order law and subsequently shifted to Kot Lakhpat jail, according to PTI sources. Her sisters Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi were also later detained under the same law.

The arrests have become another major point of contention between PTI and the government.

PTI leaders have condemned the detentions and argued that they are connected to preparations for the September 27 demonstration.

Government authorities have cited public-order concerns surrounding the planned protest.

Government Warns Against Disruption

The federal government has said it will take measures to prevent the proposed march from disrupting Islamabad.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has warned PTI against attempting to enter the capital in a manner that violates the law, while authorities have increased preparations for maintaining security.

The Islamabad High Court has also addressed the issue of public protests and movement in the capital.

In a detailed judgment concerning the planned PTI demonstration, the court emphasized the need to balance the constitutional right to protest with the rights of other citizens, including freedom of movement.

The court also stated that political activity cannot lawfully be used to prevent citizens from freely using public roads and other facilities.

PTI Promises a Peaceful Demonstration

PTI leadership has repeatedly said that the planned mobilisation will be peaceful.

Gohar said the party would not take the law into its own hands, while Afridi said anyone attempting to create disorder during the demonstration would not represent the party's position.

The party has nevertheless refused to cancel the march.

PTI officials have said they will release further details about the mobilisation and organisational arrangements before September 27.

Political Tensions Across Punjab and KP

The latest confrontation follows several weeks of PTI mobilisation efforts.

Afridi travelled through Punjab earlier this month to meet supporters and prepare for the planned demonstration. During his visit, he accused Punjab authorities of detaining workers and restricting party activities.

Punjab authorities have disputed some of the allegations made by the KP chief minister.

Dawn previously reported that Afridi claimed thousands of PTI workers had been detained during his Lahore visit, while provincial officials described some of his allegations as political rhetoric.

The competing claims have contributed to an increasingly tense political environment ahead of the Islamabad protest.

Why September 27 Matters

The planned march is significant because it will bring together PTI supporters from different parts of Pakistan.

The party has been preparing supporters in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and other areas for the mobilisation.

PTI's leadership says the protest is connected to Imran Khan's continued imprisonment and broader constitutional and political demands.

The government, meanwhile, is concerned about potential disruption to public life and security in the capital.

This creates a difficult situation in which the authorities must address public-order concerns while also dealing with the constitutional framework governing peaceful political assembly.

What Happens Next?

The coming days are likely to determine whether negotiations can reduce tensions before September 27.

PTI has indicated that it will continue preparing for the march, while government officials have warned that the law will be enforced.

The situation could also be affected by further arrests, court decisions or negotiations between political representatives.

For now, both sides appear committed to their respective positions.

PK News Analysis

The latest developments show a widening political confrontation ahead of PTI's planned September 27 Islamabad march.

PTI's position: the party says peaceful protest is a constitutional right and that arrests and pressure will not cause it to abandon the planned mobilisation.

Government position: authorities have emphasized public order, security and citizens' right to free movement, while warning against disruption in Islamabad.

The reported figure of around 1,500 detained workers comes from PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and has not been independently established as a nationwide total.

The next several days will be important as authorities, courts and political parties respond to the planned demonstration.

This article has been independently rewritten and prepared for publication by PK-News.com using current reporting from Pakistani news organizations. It does not reproduce the original source article.

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