The march is also backed by Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and is heading towards the capital with the stated aim of challenging his detention and calling for his release.
According to the information available, thousands of people took part in the mobilization. However, the sources do not indicate a precise number of participants.
The initiative came after talks between the authorities and Khan’s party stalled or ended in deadlock, without preventing the protest from going ahead.
The authorities had been preparing for weeks for the possible arrival of protesters in Islamabad. The capital was described as barricaded, although the locations affected by the measures were not specified.
According to the South China Morning Post, the march was initially scheduled for September 27 and was then postponed to October 4. This chronological account is reported only by that publication among the available sources.
The documented fact, therefore, is the start of a march heading towards Islamabad to demand Khan’s release, amid stalled talks and measures put in place in the capital.