PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said the PTI’s march to Islamabad will begin in Peshawar on October 4, not September 27. He said the decision was made unanimously by the party’s political committee.
Afridi said PTI founder Imran Khan’s birthday would be marked in Swabi on October 5. He described the delay as part of the party’s political plan and said talks with the government could continue after the march.
He said Barrister Gohar had informed opposition leaders Mahmood Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas about the decision.Afridi criticised the federal government for blocking roads and alleged that PTI lawmakers were being picked up. He said routes between K-P and other parts of the country had been closed. He also accused the authorities of planning cases against PTI workers similar to those filed after the May 9 events.
The chief minister said PTI was a peaceful political party and that its campaign was for the Constitution and the rule of law. He said the party would not use violence against people in uniform, even if they acted unlawfully.
Afridi said around 65,000 police officers had been appointed to manage the situation in K-P but had not been given basic needs such as food and housing. He said the provincial government was ready to provide these if asked.
He also asked the Islamabad High Court and Supreme Court chief justices to make sure their orders were followed. Afridi said Islamabad had been closed despite a court order, and that K-P had been cut off from the rest of the country.
He blamed the return of militants to K-P for the province’s security problems and said its share of national funds had not been updated since 2018, despite the merger of the former tribal areas.
Afridi said a large number of people would join the march on October 4. He claimed they would not return until their demands were met, while insisting the protest would remain peaceful.
Disagreement over the new date
PTI sources said the party’s political committee decided to delay the march after discussing whether to go ahead on September 27. Most leaders had supported keeping the original date, but the committee agreed to move it to October 4.
The sources said Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen Pakistan, led by opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, opposed the delay. Achakzai reportedly said the march should start on September 27, or his group would not support it. PTI leaders were trying to persuade him.
Earlier, Afridi had said the march would go ahead despite roadblocks. He criticised the placing of nails on roads near the K-P border and said the march could not be stopped.
He also accused authorities of creating tension between provinces and said some K-P ministers had been taken away by people in plain clothes. Afridi questioned why the provincial secretariat had been closed after a security warning. He said he had reopened its mosque and prayed there to show people they should not be afraid.
Security measures and road closures
The federal government ordered Pakistan Rangers to help police maintain order in several Punjab districts and Islamabad.
Police also ordered hotels, restaurants, guest houses, hostels and transport terminals in the Faizabad area to close ahead of the possible march. Owners were told to submit statements confirming that their buildings had been emptied.
Several roads linking Hazara with Punjab were blocked with shipping containers. These closures caused problems for people travelling towards Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
Twin cities prepare for the march
More than 43,000 police officers are expected to be deployed across Attock, Rawalpindi, Murree, Jhelum and Chakwal. Around 30,000 will be in Attock.
Police have prepared roadblocks along the M-1, N-5, N-80 and M-14 routes. Officers have been told to carry equipment for controlling crowds. Police have also requested armoured vehicles, water cannons, prison vans, loudspeakers and drones.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar urged the government to hold talks and avoid using force, including net launchers. He said PTI wanted its concerns to be heard and did not want protesters and law-enforcement officers to face each other.
Reported By: Political Reporter I Peshawar
