PTI accused the Sharif government and army of kidnapping two provincial ministers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on September 20, 2026.
Masked men stopped the vehicle of Minister Fazal Shakoor Khan near the Peshawar Motorway Toll Plaza, fired at the tires, and dragged him into an undisclosed location, a video circulated on social media.
Simultaneously, police in Lahore detained 73‑year‑old Imran Khan’s three sisters—Aleema Khan, Noureen Niazi and Dr. Uzma Khan—along with their children, tightening the net over the party’s leadership.
Ahead of the protest, the government has instructed all Islamabad hospitals to brace for a 'mass casualty incident,' postponing elective surgeries and diverting emergency resources to accommodate potential clashes.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi warned that any firing during the march could trigger retaliation, saying the situation was pushing Pakistan toward a 'civil war' scenario, while the army’s Field Marshal Asim Munir reportedly denied involvement.
Police will hold a court hearing on September 22 to decide whether to grant bail to the detained ministers, setting the stage for the protest.