Sohail Afridi says Oct 4 PTI march will go ahead ‘under all circumstances’

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said on Tuesday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) planned long march on Islamabad would go ahead on October 4 “under all circumstances”, urging supporters to take part in the protest peacefully.

“October 4 will happen,” Afridi said while speaking at a joint news conference with provincial Adviser for Finance Muzammil Aslam in Peshawar.

He said that PTI supporters would march with their “bare hands”.

He said that protesters would hand over to police anyone found carrying an object that could cause unrest during the march.

Afridi claimed that a large number of people would participate in the protest, saying more people would take to the streets than at any previous time in Pakistan’s history.

He also warned that any attempt to disrupt the march or create unrest would have serious consequences.

The chief minister accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of trying to create unrest in the country and alleged that the government was responsible for increasing poverty and unemployment.

He also accused the federal government of targeting members of PTI founder Imran Khan’s family, including his sisters and wife.

Afridi said that the PTI had reached its current position through the support of its workers and the public, and urged supporters to remain peaceful during the October 4 protest.

Afridi accused the federal government of trying to divert public attention from key issues.

He also said those who had brought the current rulers to power had realised that it was a “big mistake”.

Afridi said that PTI had reached its current position through the support of its workers and the public, and urged supporters to remain peaceful during the October 4 protest.

Sohail Afridi presented a bleak picture of the national economy, noting that “Pakistan’s GDP growth rate had plummeted to its lowest level in four years, while total internal and external debt had swelled to Rs43 trillion, alongside a fiscal deficit touching Rs40 billion.”

Criticizing the government’s priorities, Afridi pointed out that over 120 million people in the country were struggling to afford two basic meals a day, yet the administration oversaw the import of luxury Mercedes-Benz vehicles worth Rs6 billion.

“Even amid conflict, neighbouring Afghanistan is making economic progress, with its per capita income reaching $430,” Afridi said, alleging that the current rulers were pushing the poverty rate towards 70 percent.

He further alleged that a “regime change” operation had imposed a “coterie of thieves” backed by the establishment, who remained indifferent to unemployment and poverty.

He accused the government of using media outlets to mislead the public and divert attention from pressing national issues through propaganda.

Highlighting political victimisation, Afridi condemned the detention and alleged mistreatment of the PTI founder’s sisters and wife, claiming the ruling elite treated ordinary citizens like “insects.”

Rally Strategy and Warning

Reiterating their resolve for the upcoming demonstration, Afridi emphasised that the October 4 march would rely entirely on public support and remain peaceful.

“We have reached this position through our own strength and the power of the people. Our supporters will arrive unarmed and empty-handed,” Afridi said.

Issuing a stern warning to the ruling PML-N, Afridi stated that any attempt to sabotage the rally or engineer another “May 9-like conspiracy” would draw a strong reaction, holding the PML-N solely responsible for any potential chaos.

Afridi said his government and party had decided not to back down from their objectives, reiterating that the planned march would go ahead.

He said the march would initially head to Swabi before proceeding further, adding that tribal people and elders would accompany them.

He said all issues could be resolved if the government accepted their demands, while claiming that no action had been taken on decisions made at an earlier Apex Committee meeting. He also termed another meeting of the committee unnecessary.

Commenting on reports about the imposition of governor’s rule in the province, Afridi said that such a step was the job of those who had “strangled democracy”.

Afridi said there could be backdoor contacts by the party leadership, but he would continue to follow the party’s policy. He also defended the provincial police, saying they did not kill people like the Punjab police.

Meanwhile, Aslam rejected what he called propaganda about the performance of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying the province was being portrayed as lagging behind other provinces.

Aslam said Pakistan’s total debt had risen from around Rs43.8 trillion when the Pakistan Democratic Movement government came to power to more than Rs99 trillion.

He said Rs250 billion was available in an account established for debt repayment, adding that the provincial government had been wrongly accused of pushing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa into debt.

Aslam also claimed that 2.8 million Pakistanis had left the country in search of employment and that average prices of essential commodities had risen by 80 per cent over the past four years.

He said the provincial government was spending the largest share of its budget on education and had spent Rs125 billion on the Sehat Card programme over the past three years.