PTI postpones Islamabad long march to October 4

Pakistan's opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has postponed its planned long march toward Islamabad by one week to October 4, party leaders said following hours of consultations. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced the new date at a news conference in Peshawar on Friday.

Why did PTI postpone the Islamabad long march?

PTI's political committee unanimously decided to begin the march from Peshawar on October 4 instead of September 27, Afridi said, without detailing the specific reason for the delay. He said the party remained committed to the protest despite the change in date and described PTI's workers as ready to proceed. The march is aimed at securing the release of PTI founder and jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.

What does PTI want from the courts?

Afridi said the courts had failed to perform their duties and claimed that if they began functioning properly, Khan's bail could be secured within half an hour. He said the Supreme Court had ordered that Khan be shifted to a hospital, but the order was not implemented. Afridi called on the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court to ensure compliance with his orders and reopen Islamabad, warning that PTI workers would otherwise come forward to help reopen the city.

What are PTI's demands for the long march?

PTI had earlier announced plans to march toward Islamabad on September 27, demanding Khan's release, a meeting between him and his family and friends, and medical treatment under the supervision of his personal consultants. The party said it had exhausted all political, legal and constitutional avenues and would now resort to street protests. Afridi said the government would try to create unrest and infiltrate PTI's ranks with its own people, but maintained that the party remained committed to peaceful protests.