PTI postpones September 27 long march to Islamabad, sets October 4 departure from Peshawar

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said on Friday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s long march would now leave Peshawar on October 4, saying the party’s political committee had unanimously decided to postpone the September 27 march and announced a revised schedule.

“Our long march will depart from Peshawar on October 4,” Afridi said while addressing a press conference in Peshawar.

He said the party’s struggle was aimed at restoring the Constitution and alleged that the government was not respecting constitutional and legal provisions.

Earlier, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that the September 27 protest remains intact while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafi Jan said the march had been postponed until October 5.

Sohail Afridi said that PTI workers were peaceful and political and alleged that the government was trying to create circumstances similar to those following the May 9 events to register cases against the party.

He also alleged that PTI lawmakers were being picked up and that routes along the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border had been blocked.

Sohail Afridi said PTI workers would set out on October 4, while October 5, the birthday of PTI founder Imran Khan, would be observed as a day of celebration and victory.

He said PTI was a political and peaceful party and its struggle was for the supremacy of the Constitution and the law.

Afridi said some people wanted PTI and the establishment to remain at odds while they continued to enjoy the benefits.

He accused the PML-N of building a narrative linking PTI to terrorism and alleged that certain people were being brought into the party’s ranks.

“I am warning you in advance: whoever wants to take any action should come in uniform and do it,” he said, adding that PTI workers would not raise sticks against those in uniform.

Calling the planned protest a “Test match”, Afridi said, “We have already won the toss.”

He said negotiations would continue even after the long march, adding that postponing the march was part of PTI’s political strategy.

Afridi criticised the government for placing containers across Islamabad, saying the capital had been turned into a “city of containers”.

He said those who came out on October 4 would not be under anyone’s control.

Afridi also said PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan had informed Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas about the political committee’s decision.

Referring to PTI founder Imran Khan’s legal cases, Afridi said that if the courts started functioning, “the founder would get bail within half an hour”.

He also claimed that the Supreme Court had ordered Imran Khan’s transfer to a hospital but that the order had not been implemented.

Afridi criticised federal officials, including Interior Adviser Rana Sanaullah, over remarks concerning terrorism and questioned what message the federal government wanted to send to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

He also referred to earlier remarks by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, saying the province had been told that threats came from other provinces rather than India.