Islamabad/Peshawar — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has postponed its planned march toward Islamabad, originally scheduled for September 27, and says it will now begin from Peshawar on October 4.
Dawn reported that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced the change at a September 25 press conference after a meeting of PTI's political committee, saying the committee had unanimously agreed on the October 4 date.
Before the postponement, authorities had put extensive security arrangements in place around the federal capital. Reuters reported on September 23, citing an Interior Ministry official, that about 35,000 additional police and paramilitary personnel had been deployed in and around Islamabad. Road restrictions and barriers were also reported on major approaches.
Those measures were taken while the march was still scheduled for September 27. PTI's later announcement moved the planned start to October 4.
PTI has linked the march to political demands including the release of former prime minister Imran Khan. Statements by PTI and government officials are reported with attribution.