The convoy, composed of trucks, buses, and cars, set out from Lakki Marwat district on Sunday, a region where PTI holds a strong foothold.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, a vocal Khan ally, led the march from a container truck emblazoned with the former prime minister’s portrait, vowing that the protest would reach Islamabad’s heart.
Negotiations had stalled after two rounds, with PTI chairman Gohar Khan insisting the talks remained deadlocked, while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi blamed Afridi and warned that any loss of life could lead to arrests.
Police have erected shipping-container roadblocks at critical entry points into the capital, and the government cited a spike in Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan attacks as a justification for pressing PTI to postpone the march.
The convoy is expected to reach Islamabad by Monday, and authorities have warned that any escalation could trigger legal action against the march’s leaders, with the interior minister hinting at forthcoming court hearings.