Thousands of supporters of jailed former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan were marching towards Islamabad on Saturday to demand his release.
Khan has been in jail since 2023 and his health is in a critical condition, supporters and family warn.
Pakistan's government has said it will not allow the march to enter the capital due to security concerns.
“The federal government will take all possible measures to maintain peace and promote public development in the province,” said a government statement.
Supporters of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party began their “long march” last Sunday, demanding his release and voicing anti-government sentiment fuelled by harsh economic conditions. Some protesters are carrying red-and-green party flags or holding pictures of Khan.
The popular former cricket star has been behind bars since August 2023 and faces scores of charges, ranging from corruption to treason, following anti-establishment riots in the same year.
He and his legal team reject the allegations, describing them as politically motivated cases aimed at neutralising his popularity. Khan's sons have been warning about his deteriorating health since last year. His lawyers say he has lost significant vision in his right eye while in prison.
Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged the PTI to call off the march and re-enter negotiations with the government. The talks had hit an impasse in the early hours of last Sunday before the march began.
The PTI has long accused the government of keeping Mr Khan in prison for convictions secured in politically motivated cases, charges the government rejects.
Mr Sharif said the demonstration would have a negative impact on the economy, and warned that undermining the government's efforts would be met with the force of law.
“We will not allow this to happen. The law will take its course. Protecting the lives and property of the people is our responsibility, and we will ensure this by all means,” the Prime Minister said.
The government has been preparing for weeks for the arrival of demonstrators in Islamabad. The march was first slated for September 27 before being postponed until last Sunday.
