Imran Khan supporters march on Islamabad to demand his release after talks failed
Description: (4 Oct 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lakki Marwat, Pakistan - 4 October 2026
1. Mid of protesters, flags of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party
2. Mid of a container that reads "RELEASE IMRAN KHAN"
3. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Iqrar Niaz, Imran Khan supporter:
++PARTIALLY COVERED BY SHOT 4, 5, 6, 7, 8++
“All we want from the government is this: you have unjustly imprisoned our leader and fabricated false cases against him. Bring his cases before the courts and give him relief so that he can lead this country. The country needs Imran Khan; without him, the country cannot move forward. God willing, we have come out onto the streets, and we will only return home after sending this government packing.”
4. Mid of procession, waving flags, demonstrators sitting on car roofs
5. Wide protesters, flags of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party
6. Mid of procession, waving flags, demonstrators sitting on car roofs
7. Various of vehicles on road with protestors on top, flags
8. Wide of a crowd of people
9. Mid of a crowd of people
10. Mid of protesters standing on top of a vessel
11. Mid of vehicles on road with protestors on top, flags
12. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Nazir Khan, Imran Khan supporter:
++PARTIALLY COVERED BY SHOT 13, 14, 15++
“If our demands are not heeded, we will peacefully march towards Islamabad and stage a sit-in. Islamabad is our final destination, and that is where we will hold our protest. They used to claim that these people (Imran Khan supporters) would not come out, but look at us today - our Bannu Division is standing right here at Gandi Chowk.”
13. Mid of vehicles on road with protestors on top, flags
14. Mid of people
15. Various of local security forces
16. Mid of vehicles on road with protestors on top, flags
STORYLINE:
More than 5,000 supporters of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan began a dayslong march toward Islamabad on Sunday to demand his release, after talks between the government and the opposition fell through.
The demonstrators departed from Lakki Marwat district in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) holds power.
A demonstrator at the march said, "The country needs Imran Khan; without him, the country cannot move forward. God willing, we have come out onto the streets, and we will only return home after sending this government packing.”
Khan is current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s main political rival and has been imprisoned since 2023 on corruption and other charges that he and his party say are politically motivated.
Despite his imprisonment, he retains a substantial and passionate support base, keeping him at the center of Pakistan’s turbulent political landscape.
The organizers now vow to reach the capital after rallying with hundreds of thousands of Khan supporters.
AP video by Maaz Awan
AP production by Muhammad Yousaf
===========================================================
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RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Lakki Marwat, Pakistan - 4 October 2026
1. Mid of protesters, flags of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party
2. Mid of a container that reads "RELEASE IMRAN KHAN"
3. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Iqrar Niaz, Imran Khan supporter:
++PARTIALLY COVERED BY SHOT 4, 5, 6, 7, 8++
“All we want from the government is this: you have unjustly imprisoned our leader and fabricated false cases against him. Bring his cases before the courts and give him relief so that he can lead this country. The country needs Imran Khan; without him, the country cannot move forward. God willing, we have come out onto the streets, and we will only return home after sending this government packing.”
4. Mid of procession, waving flags, demonstrators sitting on car roofs
5. Wide protesters, flags of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party
6. Mid of procession, waving flags, demonstrators sitting on car roofs
7. Various of vehicles on road with protestors on top, flags
8. Wide of a crowd of people
9. Mid of a crowd of people
10. Mid of protesters standing on top of a vessel
11. Mid of vehicles on road with protestors on top, flags
12. SOUNDBITE (Urdu) Nazir Khan, Imran Khan supporter:
++PARTIALLY COVERED BY SHOT 13, 14, 15++
“If our demands are not heeded, we will peacefully march towards Islamabad and stage a sit-in. Islamabad is our final destination, and that is where we will hold our protest. They used to claim that these people (Imran Khan supporters) would not come out, but look at us today - our Bannu Division is standing right here at Gandi Chowk.”
13. Mid of vehicles on road with protestors on top, flags
14. Mid of people
15. Various of local security forces
16. Mid of vehicles on road with protestors on top, flags
STORYLINE:
More than 5,000 supporters of imprisoned former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan began a dayslong march toward Islamabad on Sunday to demand his release, after talks between the government and the opposition fell through.
The demonstrators departed from Lakki Marwat district in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where Khan’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) holds power.
A demonstrator at the march said, "The country needs Imran Khan; without him, the country cannot move forward. God willing, we have come out onto the streets, and we will only return home after sending this government packing.”
Khan is current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s main political rival and has been imprisoned since 2023 on corruption and other charges that he and his party say are politically motivated.
Despite his imprisonment, he retains a substantial and passionate support base, keeping him at the center of Pakistan’s turbulent political landscape.
The organizers now vow to reach the capital after rallying with hundreds of thousands of Khan supporters.
AP video by Maaz Awan
AP production by Muhammad Yousaf
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/21a3390d4da14127ba332adfbdc578e7 Close description
