KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi says PTI will go ahead with planned long march

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Friday said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s planned protest march on Islamabad would go ahead at all costs despite roadblocks and other difficulties.

Addressing a press conference at KP Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Afridi questioned the presence of officials from other provinces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, alleging that personnel from one province were entering another province and clashing with its government employees.

“What are we supposed to understand from this? Has the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration lost confidence in its own police, and is the administration or police of another province now going to be deployed here?” he asked.

Afridi said that the developments were raising questions about the federal structure and accused the authorities of pursuing policies that, according to him, were weakening the federation.

He also alleged that nails had been placed on roads at the boundaries of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, describing them as a symbol of attempts to undermine the province.

“Pakistan will not break under any circumstances, and we will save Pakistan,” Afridi said.

Referring to a video showing officials from another province allegedly entering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and clashing with provincial government personnel, he questioned the presence of outside officials in the province.

Afridi also alleged that the PTI parliamentary leader from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been barred from media coverage and that the provincial information minister had similarly been prevented from appearing in the media.

He further said that journalists had been told not to cover the KP chief minister.

Afridi thanked journalists for covering his events and said he had come to the press conference primarily to express his gratitude to the media.

He said he had been informed that journalists would not be allowed to broadcast the press conference.

Afridi accused the authorities of using what he called “black tactics”, including firing and spreading rumours, saying such measures were pushing the country in the wrong direction.

He said the PTI’s long march would go ahead under all circumstances, regardless of roadblocks, containers or firing.

“This time, when we come out, we will settle this corrupt system and these incompetent rulers once and for all,” he said.

Afridi said a meeting of the PTI’s political committee was still under way and that he would brief the media again after the meeting.

He also thanked journalists for attending the press conference and said he respected and appreciated their presence.

The chief minister said he would leave for Charsadda after the meeting and might meet journalists again upon his return.

Responding to a question, Afridi accused the authorities of trying to create panic through what he described as fake security threats.

He alleged that government operations at the provincial Secretariat had been suspended because of such threats.

“Do not stoop so low in politics that tomorrow you are unable to look people in the eye,” he said, insisting that there had been no threat to the Secretariat.

Afridi questioned the security arrangements, saying the Secretariat was located inside the cantonment and asking how a terrorist could reach the facility if the entire cantonment was under security control.

He alleged that the authorities were primarily targeting PTI ministers in an attempt to create panic.

“If they think I will be frightened by these tactics or abandon my objective, they are mistaken,” Afridi said.

He also referred to a reported threat to a mosque, saying he had personally visited the mosque and offered prayers despite the threat.

Afridi urged people not to be afraid or panic, saying that as long as the chief minister stood with them, they would face the situation with determination.

He concluded by thanking journalists for attending the press conference.

Meanwhile, according to the PTI, a large caravan led by District President and MPA Arshad Khan Umarzai from PK-63, Charsadda, have departed for Charsadda Interchange to welcome Afridi.

چارسدہ حلقہ پی کے 63:
ضلعی صدر و ایم پی اے ارشد خان عمرزئی کی قیادت میں بڑا قافلہ وزیر اعلی خیبرپختونخوا سہیل آفریدی کی استقبال کیلئے چارسدہ انٹرچینج کی روانہ ہوئی۔ pic.twitter.com/Fh0Jdfw3kn

— PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (@PTIKPOfficial) September 25, 2026

Meanwhile, a meeting of the PTI’s political committee is under way at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, with consultations taking place over the date of the planned long march, according to party sources.

The sources said that some party leaders have proposed postponing the march, raising the possibility that the PTI could change the date of the planned protest.

Earlier, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and other opposition leaders met Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Chairman and Tehreek Tahafuz Aain Pakistan (TTAP) head Mahmood Khan Achakzai to discuss preparations and arrangements for the September 27 long march and the opposition’s future political strategy.

According to a statement issued by Achakzai on social media, the meeting also reviewed the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the law and order situation and challenges to provincial autonomy, along with the country’s overall political situation.

The opposition parties also agreed to strengthen and coordinate their communication and consultation process.

Earlier, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi visited the Civil Secretariat building, which had been evacuated following a security threat, and offered Friday prayers at the Secretariat mosque alongside Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah.

After the prayers, Afridi received a detailed briefing at the Chief Secretary’s Office on the overall security situation in the province and issued necessary instructions to the relevant authorities.

Speaking on the occasion, Afridi said that offering Friday prayers at the Civil Secretariat mosque sent a clear message against terrorism, adding that terrorists could not intimidate the government or the people.

He said that the government would confront terrorism with full force and would make no compromise on the protection of the lives and property of citizens.