• Panjutha hints at possibility of postponement, links it to acceptance of party’s demands for Imran’s release, snap polls, probe into May 9 events
• PTI spox says no such proposal being discussed, insists only founder can postpone march
• Govt deploys Rangers in Islamabad, multiple districts of Punjab ahead of PTI protest

ISLAMABAD: A PTI leader on Thursday hinted at the possibility of postponing its protest march if the federal government agreed to hold elections within six to eight months, release party chief Imran Khan and other political prisoners, and investigate May 9 and November 26 crackdowns on the opposition party.

Advocate Naeem Haider Panjutha told Dawn that the protest could be postponed if these three assurances were given by the government.

There was no clarity on where such a proposal originated from, which added to confusion about the PTI’s plans for its Sept 27 protest. Party spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram, however, denied any such proposal was being discussed at any party forum, saying only Imran Khan could take a decision even if such a proposal was on the table.

“The first and primary condition is that the public mandate be respected and for that free, fair and tran­s­parent elections must be held within six to eight months,” Mr Panj­utha said, while demanding a clear guarantee that elections would be held before the end of this financial year.

All political prisoners, including Imran Khan, must be released — not through any deal or political settlement, but through the courts and due process of law, he said, adding that all cases against Imran Khan were “weak”.

The third demand was for a judicial inquiry into the events of May 9 and November 26. “If these three demands are fulfilled, the march can be postponed,” he said, adding that in case these demands were ignored, the PTI would be “coming with no compromise, no retreat, and no turning back”.

On the other hand, Sheikh Waqas Akram told Dawn the above mentioned conditions were shared with the government after the D-Chowk incident, but the government had not responded positively, so the conditions were then withdrawn on the order of Imran Khan. “We have not received any concrete offer from the government side, so the long march will be held come what may. Even if we get an offer, we will demand to arrange a meeting with Imran Khan, as only he can postpone it,” he added. Sheikh Waqas said the PTI cannot afford to announce postponement of march, especially when its ministers were being abducted.

In a meeting held at the opposition chamber in the Senate, PTI interim chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar met Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas and discussed preparations for the planned long march. According to a statement issued by the Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayeen-i-Paki­stan (TTAP), the participants held a detailed discussion on the prevailing situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and growing challenges to provincial autonomy. The meeting also focused on the Sept 27 march, preparations for the event and the strategy to be adopted in the coming days.

Rangers deployed

Separately, the federal government approved the deployment of Rangers in Islamabad and several districts of Punjab from Sept 20 to Oct 5. “Pursuant to the request made by the chief commissioner, Islamabad Capital Territory … and Home Department, government of Punjab …, the federal government is pleased to authorise deployment of sufficient strength of troops of Pakistan Rangers (Punjab) in ICT and different districts of Punjab province,” an interior ministry notification read.

The deployment has been aut­h­orised under Sections 7(b) and 10 of the Pakistan Rangers Ordin­ance, 1959, and Sections 4 and 5 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, to perform functions specified under the laws, as authorised by the Islamabad chief commissioner or the provincial government.

“The deployed troops may respond appropriately in self-defence to any threats or violent activities encountered in the course of their duties as per rules/regulations in vogue,” the notification stated. The Punjab government also sent a letter to the interior ministry requesting mobile and internet services at specific locations in Rawalpindi and Attock to be downgraded or jam­med on Sept 27.

Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2026