Full Breakdown
PTI Long March Delayed to October 4 Amid Heightened Security Lockdown in Islamabad
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced on September 25, 2026 that its long march from Peshawar to Islamabad, originally set for September 27, will be postponed to October 4. The federal government has sealed major routes into the capital, deployed tens of thousands of security personnel and imposed Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, banning public gatherings of five or more people across Islamabad.
Background & Context
Former prime minister Imran Khan has been incarcerated since 2023 and is held at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. In the days before the originally scheduled march, authorities blocked highways with more than 1,000 shipping containers—many reinforced with spikes—and positioned sandbags on bridges. The main highway linking Peshawar with Islamabad was closed and three of Khan’s sisters were detained under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance.
Security Measures and Costs
- Personnel deployment: 22,000 police and security staff are positioned in Islamabad, with a request for 16,000 Punjab Police officers and 2,000 Sindh Police officers. As of September 25, the Sindh contingent has arrived; the Punjab contingent had not yet reached the capital.
- Container logistics: The All Pakistan Goods Alliance reports 1,550 containers are being held. Daily rent per container is PKR 30,000, costing PKR 46.5 million per day, PKR 325.5 million for a week, and PKR 651 million for two weeks.
- Vehicle and accommodation costs: Police have booked 175 hotel rooms for senior officers (daily rent PKR 754,500) and arranged 70 coasters (PKR 1.05 million per day) and 30 double-cabin vehicles (PKR 300,000 per day).
- Meal expenses: The Sindh contingent (2,000 officers) incurs PKR 1.2 million per day for meals; the Punjab contingent’s projected daily food bill is PKR 9.6 million, rising to PKR 67.2 million for a week.
Police sources estimate the total security budget for the week-long operation exceeds PKR 1 billion, roughly double the original allocation.
Official Statements & Responses
- PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Sohail Afridi confirmed the postponement to October 4 and said the party may adjust the date again if needed.
- All Pakistan Goods Alliance Chairman Nisar Hussain Jaffri said police have seized at least 2,700 vehicles and their crews, with about 400 still missing. Drivers are being held at police stations pending decisions on container release.
- Islamabad administration officials invoked Section 144 to prohibit gatherings, citing the need to maintain public order ahead of the march.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Punjab Police deployment: The 16,000-strong Punjab contingent was scheduled to arrive by the evening of September 25, but sources reported none had reached Islamabad, creating uncertainty about the full strength of the security force.
- Container release: Authorities have not clarified whether the seized containers will be released after the march, leaving the status of the blocked highways unresolved.
Verbatim Quote
- “We can now do it whenever we deem fit. The question is to the government, as to how long they’re willing to keep the country closed off?” — Mr. Bukhari, party spokesperson
What’s Next
The government must fund the extended security operation through early October, with costs likely to rise if the PTI delays the march again. Section 144 restrictions are slated to remain in place for two months, affecting commerce and daily life in Islamabad and surrounding districts. Decisions on releasing the seized containers and on the arrival of the Punjab Police contingent will shape the logistical landscape ahead of the rescheduled protest.