PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has reaffirmed its determination to hold the long march to Islamabad on September 27, vowing to proceed regardless of obstacles, while explicitly instructing supporters not to carry any weapons, sticks, or slingshots.
PTI KP Information Secretary Shaukat Yousafzai emphasized that any member found with weapons or harmful objects would be disassociated from the party. He added that a recent party meeting had finalized the march plan, with a unanimous agreement to proceed as scheduled.
“We are committed to reaching Islamabad—if we face barriers, we will halt and protest at that point,” he stated, underscoring the party’s call for peaceful demonstrations. All party workers have been instructed to maintain discipline during the protest.
The party is preparing for a significant rally demanding the release of its jailed leader, Imran Khan, and advocating for the reinstatement of constitutional authority. PTI’s central spokesperson, Sheikh Waqas Akram, confirmed that an online consultation had taken place to strategize for the march, with no suggestions to postpone the event.
Meanwhile, PTI leader Gohar Khan expressed that the use of water cannons or other force against protesters was inappropriate, asserting that grievances should be addressed through dialogue rather than force. He reiterated that the party’s schedule had been shared well in advance and remains unchanged.
Gohar Khan also expressed confidence in Imran Khan’s support for Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, affirming Afridi’s continued leadership with backing from the party. He recently met with Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas to discuss the march’s preparations.
In a related development, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi addressed a security meeting in Peshawar, highlighting the province’s ongoing efforts against terrorism and the sacrifices made by law enforcement over the past 22 years. He noted that his government had allocated additional funds—Rs35 billion last year and an increase in police budget from Rs80 billion to Rs190 billion this year—to strengthen police capabilities.
Afridi revealed that modern armored vehicles prepared for deployment in Islamabad had been handed over, though KP police had yet to receive similar equipment. He emphasized that his administration had not issued any unlawful or politically motivated orders to police officers.
Regarding the upcoming march, Afridi reaffirmed that PTI’s intention was a peaceful protest, not an armed confrontation. He warned that if federal agencies used police for political repression, the provincial government would take necessary countermeasures.
“As long as the right to peaceful assembly exists under the Constitution, we will exercise it,” he declared, challenging those who seek to suppress the protest to first amend constitutional rights.
