Imran Khan, a former prime minister of Pakistan, has been in prison since August 2023, serving two separate long-term sentences related to corruption and misuse of state gifts. His political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is planning a major protest march in Islamabad this Sunday, which could last several days. The government has expressed opposition to the event and is taking extensive measures to prevent it, including placing shipping containers on roads and instructing hospitals to prepare for a potential “mass casualty event.” These actions have raised concerns about the scale of the security response and the implications for public safety. Imran Khan’s son, Suleiman Khan, has criticized the government for detaining three of his family members, including his sister Aleema, in the days leading up to the protest. He described the detentions as an act of intimidation by a “fascist regime.” The PTI has condemned these actions as “illegal harassment” and has stated that the protest will demand Khan’s release and protest the erosion of democracy under the current ruling coalition. Dozens of PTI activists and workers have also been detained, with authorities citing the need to maintain public order. The government has warned PTI leaders not to proceed with the protest, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stating that the city could be shut down for several days if the march goes ahead. He urged the PTI leadership to consider alternative approaches to avoid harm to their supporters. Meanwhile, Amnesty International reported that Khan’s sister Aleema was detained at her home in Lahore under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) law, while other family members were also reportedly taken into custody. Imran Khan’s family has raised concerns about his health, claiming he is being “slowly killed” due to the harsh conditions of his incarceration. They described his confinement as a form of “mental and physical torture.” The government has denied these allegations, but the issue of Khan’s health has become a central part of the PTI’s justification for the protests. The Supreme Court had ordered Khan’s transfer to a private hospital for medical treatment, but he was briefly taken there, declared fit, and returned to prison within hours—a move that supporters claim violated the court’s directive. In preparation for the protest, the government has increased security measures significantly, reportedly placing over 2,000 shipping containers on roads and bringing in police from other provinces. Major roads and highways into Islamabad are being indefinitely closed, with more than 22,000 security personnel expected in the capital and over 30,000 in Attock district. According to Dropsite News, Islamabad hospitals have been placed on emergency footing and instructed to prepare for a potential “mass casualty incident,” including postponing elective surgeries and recalling medical staff. However, these claims could not be independently verified.