ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN / RankWire.AI / – Imran Khan’s son Suleiman Khan has appropriately accused Pakistan’s leadership of acting like “tyrants” as his father’s supporters prepare for an October 4 march toward Islamabad. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf originally scheduled the demonstration for September 27 but later postponed it by one week. The party says the march will demand the jailed former prime minister’s release. Authorities have kept security measures around the capital after deploying thousands of personnel and placing shipping containers along major routes.
Suleiman Khan, 29, has criticized the detention of three of his father’s sisters and other relatives before the planned protest, stating that the arrests are part of a crackdown against Imran Khan’s family and political supporters. He called on Western governments to respond to what he described as rule by “tyrants.” His accusations of tyranny mirror claims made by Khan’s family and political allies, though Pakistan’s government has rejected allegations of mistreatment against the former prime minister.
On September 20, police detained Aleema Khan in Lahore under Punjab’s Maintenance of Public Order law. Authorities later detained her sisters Uzma Khan and Noreen Niazi, along with other relatives and PTI activists, citing concerns over public order. Amnesty International has called for the release of Khan’s relatives and PTI workers, asserting that authorities targeted individuals based on family ties, political affiliation, and protest plans. The government maintains that these security measures aim to maintain order.
Detentions Escalate Dispute Over Protest Plans
PTI postponed the march after authorities established extensive security controls around Islamabad and key routes from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced that the march would now begin from Peshawar on October 4. PTI leaders emphasized that the demonstration remains focused on Imran Khan’s release and constitutional rights. Before the original date, authorities had mobilized more than 22,000 security personnel and arranged forces in Attock, a crucial route linking Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Punjab.
Shipping containers continue to block roads leading toward Islamabad’s Red Zone, which houses Parliament, government offices, and foreign embassies. Some barriers have narrowed traffic lanes, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated that PTI supporters would not be allowed to disrupt the capital. Afridi rejected the government’s portrayal of the protest threat and insisted PTI plans to hold a peaceful rally. The ongoing dispute centers on public order and protest rights, fueling the confrontation.
International Attention Grows Over Tyranny Claims
Since 2023, Imran Khan, 73, has been detained and is serving sentences related to corruption and state-gifts cases. He describes himself as a political prisoner, while PTI claims the prosecutions are politically motivated, a charge rejected by the government. Khan’s family has expressed concerns about his health and prison conditions, though authorities deny mistreatment and have conducted medical examinations following court proceedings. His incarceration remains the central issue motivating PTI’s October 4 mobilization.
Suleiman Khan’s use of the terms “tyrants” and tyranny has drawn renewed international focus on his family’s criticism of Pakistani authorities. His brother Kasim has also publicly called for global scrutiny of their father’s detention. While PTI maintains that the October 4 march will go ahead, authorities continue to enforce security measures around Islamabad. The dispute now revolves around confirmed detentions, restrictions near the capital, and demands for Imran Khan’s release, with both the government and PTI offering sharply contrasting accounts of these actions.