ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to postpone its planned long march towards Islamabad from Sept. 27 to Oct. 4, according to party sources and reports published on Friday.
The decision was taken by the party’s political committee after consultations over whether to proceed with the march on the previously announced date. The revised plan is for the march to depart from Peshawar on Oct. 4, according to the reports. (Dawn)
The planned protest had been announced as part of PTI’s campaign seeking the release of party founder Imran Khan, who remains incarcerated at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
The postponement follows several days of preparations and security measures in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and parts of Punjab ahead of the previously scheduled Sept. 27 protest.
The federal government had authorised the deployment of Pakistan Rangers in Islamabad Capital Territory and several Punjab districts from Sept. 20 to Oct. 5 in connection with the security situation surrounding the planned protest. (Dawn)
Authorities had also placed restrictions on major routes leading towards Islamabad, with sections of the M-1 and other roads affected by security arrangements.
The development comes after PTI leaders had publicly maintained on Thursday that the Sept. 27 march would proceed and urged workers to participate peacefully.
The revised date places the planned march after the period originally announced for the Sept. 27 mobilisation, while details of the new route and schedule are expected to be announced by the party leadership.