Fervour and fury on Pakistan pro-Imran Khan march
Supporters of Pakistan's jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan are conducting a 'long march' to demand his release. Protesters are citing economic hardship and political frustration as key drivers for the ongoing demonstrations.
Why it matters
The protests highlight significant political instability in Pakistan and the ongoing tension between the PTI party and the current government.
Punching the air and roaring in unison, ecstatic crowds joined a growing demonstration on Wednesday in support of Pakistan's jailed ex-prime minister Imran Khan, an opposition show of force that authorities had sought to avert.
Supporters of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party began their so-called "long march" on Sunday, demanding the former prime minister's release and airing anti-government sentiment fuelled by harsh economic conditions.
"I joined this procession for one reason: Imran Khan's release. I will not return under any circumstances until he is released," 58-year-old Qalandar Khan told AFP in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, ruled by the PTI.
"If the government and the establishment think they can remove Imran Khan ... they should know that he has a place in our hearts," said the protester from the mountainous North Waziristan area.
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