Urdu Report Desk
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march, led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, is scheduled to reach Peshawar late Tuesday night after passing through Kohat.
The long march began on October 4 from Lakki Marwat in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. PTI says the march is aimed at seeking meetings with the party’s founding chairman, ensuring his treatment and seeking the commencement of hearings in his cases.
The first night of the march was spent in Karak. On October 5, the participants travelled from Karak towards Kohat.
March Route and Next Stops
The march is scheduled to pass through different markets in Kohat and reach College Chowk, where Chief Minister Sohail Afridi is scheduled to address the participants.
After the leaders’ speeches, the participants will leave for Peshawar. PTI workers and marchers are expected to reach Matni, a suburban area of Peshawar, late at night.
On October 7, the march will pass through various roads in Peshawar before reaching the Charsadda Interchange at night. The participants are scheduled to leave for Swabi on October 8, where Sohail Afridi will announce the next phase of the movement.
Sohail Afridi Rejects Governor’s Rule Threats
Addressing the participants in Kohat on Tuesday, October 6, Sohail Afridi strongly rejected threats of imposing governor’s rule or an emergency in the province.
“Let them impose governor’s rule tomorrow, today or right now. I do not care about these things,” Afridi said, according to the supplied report.
He said he was not afraid of threats and challenged those considering governor’s rule to impose it if they wanted to.
Criticism of Counterterrorism Policies
Sohail Afridi also criticised the federal government’s policies regarding terrorism, saying that terrorism had continued to increase instead of declining because of what he described as failed policies.
He said he would not accept what he described as the government’s policy on terrorism, even if it cost him his life.
Afridi further alleged that the federal government’s policy regarding terrorism was anti-Pashtun, anti-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and against Pakistan.
He said the practice of earning dollars at the expense of Pashtuns’ lives could no longer continue and added that he rejected any position for which the lives of Pashtuns had to be compromised.
‘Our Destination Is Beyond Swabi’
Speaking about the PTI long march, Afridi said its destination was beyond Swabi and that its final outcome would become clear to everyone.
He said the movement’s objective was “real freedom” and that, for the vision he attributed to Imran Khan, holding a political position was a minor matter.
Afridi said he would not step back even if the struggle required him to risk or sacrifice his life.
Appeal for Peaceful Conduct
Addressing PTI supporters, Afridi warned that attempts could be made to provoke them into creating disorder.
He urged the participants to remain peaceful, saying that they should not respond to such attempts by abandoning peaceful conduct.
PTI Participation From Southern Districts
The long march was planned to include caravans from Dera Ismail Khan, North and South Waziristan, Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Tank.
However, a large caravan led by former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur turned back after the closure of the Yarik Interchange and has so far been unable to join the long march.
The PTI has announced Swabi as the location where the next phase of the march will be outlined.
