Long March Enters Peshawar Demanding Imran Khan’s Release, Security Tightened

October 8, Kathmandu — The long march toward Islamabad, initiated earlier this year to demand the release of former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, entered the city of Peshawar on Thursday. Security has been significantly tightened in Peshawar to control the situation. Due to the march organized by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), several private educational institutions in Peshawar have declared a holiday for Thursday. Parents were informed of the holiday on Wednesday evening. The march, which commenced from Peshawar on Thursday, will proceed up to the Peshawar–Charsadda border.

According to BBC Urdu, some private schools have granted leave to their students. However, there has been no official announcement regarding closures by government schools so far. Meanwhile, reports have surfaced about temporary suspension of mobile services in certain areas of Peshawar, although no official confirmation or denial has been issued yet.

This march is taking place amid serious differences between Imran Khan’s party and the Pakistani government. The rally began last Sunday in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the northwestern province governed by PTI. The march will make various stops before reaching Islamabad.