Pakistan's politics has once again come to the brink of fierce conflict and internal instability. The party has openly announced to take out a huge and decisive 'long march' towards the country's capital Islamabad on 27 September 2026, demanding the immediate release of jailed former Prime Minister of Pakistan and founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan. This proposed protest has completely given sleepless nights to the federal government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the administration of Punjab province. The government machinery has started taking widespread repressive measures to crush the possible siege and show of strength by PTI workers in the capital Islamabad. The provincial government of Punjab has issued an official notification to impose Section 144 in the entire Punjab province till October 6, 2026, citing law and order and security. As soon as this restrictive order comes into effect, a complete ban has been imposed on the gathering of five or more persons at any public place, rallies, processions, dharnas and any kind of public protest for the next 13 days in the entire Punjab province. Along with this, there has also been a strict ban on carrying firearms, sticks or any kind of deadly weapons in public places. Days before the march, police and paramilitary forces have launched raids on the residences of top PTI leaders, former ministers, grassroots officials and even Imran Khan's close family members and have taken hundreds of people into preventive custody and sent them to undisclosed locations. Intelligence agencies issued alert of suicide attack, shadow of VBIED and suicide attacks looms. Not only political conflict but also a very serious national security crisis has been cited as the reason behind the strict orders issued by the Home Ministry of Punjab Government. Pakistan's top intelligence agencies have sent several sensitive inputs and threat alerts to the Home Ministry, giving a clear warning that banned terrorist organizations can take advantage of this huge political gathering to carry out destructive incidents. According to intelligence reports, a deep conspiracy has been hatched to carry out vehicle borne IED (VBIED) attacks using suicide bombers and explosive laden vehicles to target political rallies, main routes of marches and convoys of leaders. In view of these dire terrorist warnings, the state administration has claimed that the implementation of Section 144 had become mandatory not only for political reasons but to protect the common citizens and public property. Intelligence sources say that the convoys moving from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa may include unruly and armed elements, who may try to create widespread unrest in the country by instigating violent clashes with security forces. This is why additional police contingents, riot control squads and rangers have been deployed on high alert across Punjab to deal with any emergency. Preparations to shut down mobile-internet service in Attock and Rawalpindi, there will be blockade of the entry gates of the march. In order to completely isolate the PTI movement digitally and technically, the Home Ministry of Punjab has written a confidential letter to the Ministry of Interior (Home Ministry) of the Federal Government of Pakistan. In this letter, a direct recommendation has been made for a complete blackout of all mobile networks, cellular calling and high-speed mobile internet services in the strategically important Attock district from 9 am on September 27. Apart from this, a formal request has also been made to suspend mobile internet and communication services in all those sensitive and major urban areas of Rawalpindi which directly connect with the Islamabad border. The strategic intention behind shutting down communication services is to break real-time communication between PTI workers and leaders and to prevent the crowd from consolidating at one place. Actually, this long march, coming out on the strength of the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and local supporters, will enter Punjab from the border of Attock district and then enter the capital border of Islamabad via Rawalpindi via GT Road. The government's entire plan hinges on stopping the march miles before the capital's borders by placing huge shipping containers at the main entry gates of Attock and Rawalpindi, digging up roads and deploying heavy police force. The war between Shehbaz government and PTI: The future of Pakistan hinges on the release of Imran Khan. The political crisis that is currently deepening in Pakistan has reached the most tense phase in the last several decades. Former Prime Minister Imran Khan, lodged in Adiala jail, is continuously sending the message of final and decisive movement to his supporters. PTI's clear stand is that the present ruling coalition government is suppressing opposition voices by adopting undemocratic tactics and their leadership has been kept behind bars through fake cases. PTI spokespersons have termed Section 144 and police crackdown as panic and cowardice of the government and claimed that public anger can no longer be stopped by any government restrictions or internet ban. On the other hand, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his coalition government say that no one will be allowed to take the law into their hands or hold the capital hostage. The government has given clear instructions to the security agencies that if any group tries to disturb the law and order, it should be dealt with strictly. Now the eyes of the whole world are fixed on the day of September 27 when thousands of PTI supporters will try to break the security cordon and move towards Islamabad, which has brought Pakistan to the brink of unprecedented internal conflict and violence.
