Sohail Afridi vows to proceed with Sept 27 Islamabad march despite govt warnings

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan on Monday reaffirmed that the party would proceed with its planned September 27 march on Islamabad, despite warnings from the federal government.

Addressing a joint press conference in Peshawar, Afridi said that the PTI had exhausted constitutional, legal and parliamentary avenues and would now exercise what he described as its constitutional right to peaceful protest.

“We will continue our struggle for our rights,” Afridi said, adding that the PTI would go to Islamabad despite roadblocks being created by the federal government.

He said the party had not held a major protest or long march for nearly two years, arguing that it had used the provincial and National Assembly forums as well as legal avenues during that period.

“From November 26, 2024, until today, nearly two years have passed. During these two years, we have not held any long march or major protest,” Afridi said.

The KP chief minister said that the PTI had tried to resolve its grievances through constitutional and democratic means but had not received a positive response.

He said the party had also been unable to meet its founder, Imran Khan, and alleged that court orders concerning meetings with him had not been implemented.

Afridi cites detention of Imran’s sisters

Afridi said the detention of Imran Khan’s three sisters was intended to weaken the party’s planned mobilisation but would not prevent the PTI from proceeding with the march.

Police detained Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan in Lahore on Sunday under the Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, according to a detention order issued by the Lahore deputy commissioner.

The PTI later also said that Noreen Niazi and Uzma Khanum were detained on Sunday night.

The arrests came a week before the PTI’s planned September 27 protest, which the party has said is aimed at seeking Imran Khan’s release and demanding what it describes as enforcement of constitutional rights.

Afridi said the detention of the sisters would not deter the party.

‘Show me where Constitution bars protest’

Afridi challenged the federal government to identify any provision in the Constitution that prohibits political parties or citizens from holding a protest.

He said the PTI had adopted all available constitutional and democratic channels before announcing the march.

“If you say we cannot protest, show me an article of the Constitution that prevents political parties or citizens from protesting,” he said.

Earlier, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that it would use all legal means to prevent disruption in Islamabad and would strictly implement an Islamabad High Court order concerning the protest.

Afridi questions implementation of court orders

Afridi also criticised the federal government over denial of Imran Khan’s access to his family and lawyers.

He said that an Islamabad High Court order allowing meetings with the PTI founder had not been implemented by the Adiala jail administration.

He also referred to a Supreme Court order issued on August 18 directing the government to shift Imran Khan from Adiala jail to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for medical examination and treatment.

The three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed had ordered the transfer within two days and directed the formation of a medical board, including specialists and Imran Khan’s personal physician.

Afridi said that the order had not been implemented.

Gohar vows peaceful march

Barrister Gohar said the PTI’s protest would remain peaceful and rejected suggestions that the party intended to create disorder or attack Islamabad.

“Our protest is peaceful and will remain peaceful,” Gohar said.

He said the party had repeatedly called for negotiations and had sought dialogue over its political and legal grievances.

“We said: talk to us,” he said, referring to the party’s calls for negotiations.

Gohar said the PTI had decided to march because it believed its demands for justice had not been addressed through other channels.

“We will launch the long march immediately. We will go to Islamabad,” he said.

Addressing the controversy over PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Junaid Akbar’s recent reference to turning Islamabad into “Somnath”, Gohar said the party had no intention of destroying the capital.

“We are not going to make Islamabad Somnath. We are not going to destroy Islamabad or attack Islamabad,” he said.

He said the PTI’s supporters would instead arrive carrying Pakistani flags and chanting slogans.

Gohar also said the party would not take the law into its own hands.

“Islamabad first, Pakistan first, the state of Pakistan first, its peace and security first and the rights of our people first,” he said.

Arrest of workers, lawmakers

Gohar alleged that around 1,500 PTI workers had been arrested and said several lawmakers and party leaders had also been detained ahead of the planned march.

He alleged that five members of the National Assembly, a senator, members of the provincial assembly and provincial ministers had been arrested.

Gohar questioned whether seeking justice through a peaceful march could be considered undemocratic.

“If you do not listen to us, what are we supposed to do?” he said, referring to what he described as the lack of relief through the courts and restrictions on meetings with Imran Khan.

Government warns against disruption

The PTI’s announcement comes amid heightened tensions between the party and the federal government ahead of September 27.

The government has warned that peaceful political activity will be permitted within the law but that it will not allow violence or disruption in the capital.

Earlier, State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry also warned the PTI against bringing violence to the capital, saying the right to protest did not extend to attacks or threats to public safety.

PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Junaid Akbar had earlier warned against the use of force during the September 27 protest and used the “Somnath” reference, prompting a sharp response from government officials.

With the PTI now reaffirming its plans and the government vowing to prevent disruption, the September 27 protest is set to become a major test of the confrontation between the federal government and the opposition party.