PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced a long march to Islamabad on September 27 if its key demands are not addressed, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said while addressing a party rally in Peshawar.
Afridi said the party’s primary demand is the early scheduling of court hearings involving former Prime Minister Imran Khan and his wife to ensure what he described as a fair judicial process. He added that PTI is also demanding the restoration of Khan’s meetings with his lawyers, doctors, family members, and party leaders.
"If there is no progress on these demands, PTI workers from across Pakistan will march towards Islamabad on September 27,” Afridi said, adding that the protest would remain peaceful and within constitutional and legal limits.
The chief minister reiterated the party’s demand for Imran Khan’s release, saying PTI has pursued its objectives through legal and democratic means. He described the party’s demands as legitimate and said the political struggle would continue until they are met.
Security Situation
Afridi also criticized the country’s security situation, saying terrorism continues to affect parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including Bannu, Lakki Marwat, and Swat. He argued that policymakers have failed to effectively address the province’s security challenges.
He further claimed that Pakistan’s political and economic conditions have deteriorated since Imran Khan’s removal from office and subsequent imprisonment, alleging that many young people are leaving the country due to growing uncertainty.
Afridi Criticizes judicial system
Speaking at the PTI Rally in Peshawar, Sohail Afridi also criticized the judiciary, saying that public confidence in the courts had diminished following the 26th Constitutional Amendment and that state institutions had become ineffective.
He said he would personally lead the protest movement and urged party workers not to succumb to fear or pressure. "Our only demand is that the courts deliver justice by ordering the release of Imran Khan. The judiciary must ensure justice is served,” he said.
He urged PTI supporters to maintain discipline during protests and avoid violence or confrontation with political opponents, emphasizing that peaceful protest remains the party’s official policy.
PTI Chairman statement
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar described the Peshawar gathering as a key event in the party’s nationwide campaign. He indicated that the current phase of public rallies was nearing completion and that the party would soon announce its next course of action.
PTI leader Junaid Akbar told the gathering that the party had consistently sought dialogue and avoided confrontation but claimed those efforts were viewed as a sign of weakness. He said PTI would now intensify its public movement to press for its demands.
Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 after being convicted in a corruption case. He also faces several other legal cases, including allegations of corruption, disclosure of state secrets, and violations of marriage laws. Khan and PTI reject all the charges, calling them politically motivated, while the government maintains that the legal proceedings have been conducted independently and in accordance with the law.
Further News
Pakistan’s How Many New Provinces : Will It Solve The Governance Problems – urdureport.com
Swat: 14 Killed in Suicide Attack Kabal Swat After Peace Rally Ends – urdureport.com
Since Khan’s arrest, PTI has organized multiple rallies and demonstrations calling for his release and fresh elections. Several protests have faced official restrictions, while some turned violent. The most serious unrest followed Khan’s first arrest in May 2023, when attacks targeted military installations and government buildings. Authorities subsequently launched a nationwide crackdown, arresting thousands of PTI workers and leaders, with some cases later referred to military courts.
