Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned September 27 long march towards Islamabad has faced fresh uncertainty, with reports suggesting that the mobilisation could be deferred to October 5. However, PTI representatives have publicly maintained that no final decision to postpone the march has been taken.
The uncertainty comes as authorities have tightened security arrangements around Islamabad and along major routes leading towards the federal capital. The federal government has authorised the deployment of Pakistan Rangers in Islamabad and several districts of Punjab from September 20 to October 5.
Major roads have also faced restrictions as authorities prepare for the planned mobilisation. Containers and other barriers have been placed at strategic locations along routes connecting Punjab with Islamabad, adding to logistical challenges for anyone travelling towards the capital.
PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram has said that no proposal to postpone the march was discussed during the party’s online meeting. PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Secretary Shaukat Yousafzai has also said preparations are complete and that the protest will remain peaceful. The party has instructed workers not to carry sticks, slingshots or weapons during the mobilisation.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had previously reaffirmed that the party intended to proceed with the September 27 march. He has also said that the party’s political struggle could continue while keeping the door open for dialogue.
The proposed October 5 date has nevertheless gained attention amid discussions within opposition circles about the timing of the mobilisation and the situation on the ground. Earlier reports said opposition leaders had discussed the September 27 march and agreed that the specific timing of entering Islamabad could be settled through further consultation.
The PTI has linked the planned mobilisation to several political demands, including the release of its founder Imran Khan. The party has also called for what it describes as political and constitutional issues to be addressed through dialogue.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has said there is still an opportunity for dialogue before September 27. He has urged that the situation should not develop into confrontation or violence.
For now, the exact status of the September 27 march remains subject to further decisions by PTI leadership. While reports have mentioned October 5 as a possible revised date, public statements from party officials indicate that the September 27 plan had not been formally withdrawn at the time of those statements.
Also read: PTI Chairman Makes Key Announcement Ahead of Islamabad March
