Spokesman Report

Sawabi: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf convoys from various cities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa marched to Islamabad on Sunday for former prime minister Imran Khan’s release. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur-led convoy has crossed the Swabi Interchange while Bushra Bibi remains at the Swabi Rest House.

Highways leading to Islamabad through which supporters of Khan, led by members of his PTI, are expected to approach the city and gather near the parliament, have been blocked.

Most major roads of the city have also been blocked by the government with shipping containers and large contingents of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in riot gear, while mobile phone services have been suspended.

Sources said that a convoy led by Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub is en route to the federal capital and Gandapur’s group would depart for the federal capital upon Ayub’s arrival.

The KP chief minister, who reached the Swabi rest area, energised the crowd with slogans and urged supporters to unite and use their strength to clear the way. “Everyone should move forward together; become each other’s strength, and give way to the machinery first,” he stated.

When asked by Aaj News about the closed roads and how they would proceed, Gandapur said: “We will open all the roads and reach Islamabad, so don’t worry.”

He would lead the protest from Swabi. The KP chief minister is expected to board a container after arriving in Swabi this afternoon.

Reports of a heated exchange between Gandapur and Bibi surfaced on social media as they prepared to depart. Despite the speculation, the former first lady remained part of the PTI convoy heading to Islamabad. Her sister, Maryam Riaz Wattoo, commented on the social media platform X, stating that everyone was urging Bibi not to go due to concerns for her safety; however, “those who walk the path of God are not deterred by such fears.”

Just a day prior, there were reports that she would not participate in the protest due to health issues.

In response to such developments, PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram confirmed that Khan’s wife is part of the convoy departing from Peshawar under the leadership of Gandapur.