Says it is a unanimous decision of the party’s political committee to postpone Sept 27 start
K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi addressing a press conference on PTI’s proposed long march to Islamabad. Photo: Screengrab
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Friday night confirmed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) long march to Islamabad would kick off from Peshawar on October 4 instead of the previous September 27 date.
It said it was the unanimous decision of the party’s political committee.
While addressing a press conference at the Chief Minister House in Peshawar, Afridi stated that the march would leave Peshawar on October 4, while the birthday of PTI founder Imran Khan would be marked in Swabi on October 5.
Afridi said all matters had been discussed in the political committee meeting and described the decision to defer the march as part of the party’s “political strategy”, further adding that negotiations would continue even after the march.
He further stated that Barrister Gohar had informed National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Achakzai and Senate Leader of Opposition Allama Raja Nasir Abbas about the political committee’s decision.
Criticising the federal government, the chief minister questioned the purpose of blocking roads and alleged that PTI lawmakers were being picked up and routes along the K-P border had been closed.
Afridi alleged that the authorities wanted to launch cases against PTI workers similar to those registered after the May 9 events. “PTI is a political and peaceful party, and its struggle is for the supremacy of the Constitution and law”.
The chief minister also criticised the federal government over what he described as the purchase of aircraft and vehicles, and alleged that the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) had effectively become the “Punjab police”.
Afridi further said that Imran would secure bail within half an hour if the courts started functioning properly. “The Supreme Court ordered Imran to be shifted to hospital, but that order has not been implemented”.
He also alleged that the government was creating a “terrorist” narrative against PTI and warned that some people were being inducted into the party’s ranks.
Afridi pledged to “respect those who wear the uniform, but if they commit illegal and unconstitutional acts, we will stop them with words, we will stop them by speaking out, we will stop them even by embracing them, we will not raise a stick against them, nor a stone nor a baton, we will remind them of their duty”.
The chief minister also said that around 65,000 police personnel had been appointed to oversee the situation in K-P, but had not been provided basic facilities such as food and housing. He said the provincial government was ready to host and feed them, if asked. “The people of K-P are welcoming towards guests.”
Afridi also sought the attention of Islamabad High Court Chief Justice (CJ) Sardar Muhammad Sarfraz Dogar. “CJ Dogar, your orders have been flouted. You said Islamabad would not be closed. It is closed right now. Kindly oversee that your directions are implemented”.
He also requested Supreme Court Chief Justice Yahya Afridi to look into the matter while stating that K-P was his province and it had been disconnected from the rest of the country. “You should look into the rights of the people of this province”.
Responding to questions regarding the security situation, Afridi said, “The province has been under threat since the terrorists were rehoused in K-P.”
He also lamented that the NFC share of K-P had not been updated since 2018, even after the merger of tribal areas.
“This is a Test match, and we have already won the toss,” Afridi said, adding that the Test match had already begun.
He further said Islamabad had been turned into a “container city” and reiterated that negotiations would continue after the march.
“This time, what we are going to see has never been witnessed in Pakistan’s history,” Afridi said. “The anger and hatred visible in the eyes of the people is something I have never seen in my 18 to 20 years in politics.”
Afridi said those taking to the streets on October 4 would not remain under anyone’s control and would not return until their demands were met, while insisting that the mobilisation would remain peaceful.
“Our political decision is clear,” he said, adding that the relevant leadership had been informed of the plan.
Afridi also described the delay in the planned mobilisation as part of a “political strategy”, arguing that the reaction from government ministers and “pro-government journalists” demonstrated the significance of PTI’s strategy.
The chief minister said that a “sea of people” would emerge from across Pakistan on October 4 and claimed that October 5 would be observed as a “day of victory” under the leadership of the PTI founder.
The PTI leadership earlier decided to postpone its planned long march on Islamabad until October 4 or 5, according to party sources.
The PTI had announced last month that it would march to Islamabad on September 27 to press for the release of party founder Imran Khan. The party had been preparing a central convoy from K-P, with caravans from other parts of the country expected to join before proceeding towards the federal capital. The federal government warned the party against going ahead with the march.
The decision was taken by the party’s political committee after consultations on whether to proceed with the march on the previously announced date of September 27. A majority of the leadership had favoured holding the march as scheduled, but the committee ultimately agreed to defer it until October 4, party sources added.
The source also revealed that Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP), led by National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, has refused to back the proposal to delay the march.
Achakzai has made it clear that the march should begin on September 27; otherwise, the TTAP will not support the march. The source said attempts are being made to convince the TTAP chief.
Earlier, K-P CM Afridi, speaking at a press conference at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, said that the planned long march on Islamabad would go ahead despite road blockades and other measures. “Our long march will definitely take place. This time, we will definitely come out,” he said.
The chief minister criticised the placement of nails on roads at the K-P boundary, saying the move raised questions about whether the province was being cut off from the rest of the country. “No matter how many nails they put in the roads, this long march will not be stopped,” he said.
Afridi also questioned what he called a growing narrative that one province faced threats from other provinces rather than India. He also said that officials from one province had entered another and clashed with government employees.
“A narrative has been created for the past month that one province faces a threat from the other three provinces,” he said, asking whether the people of K-P were being portrayed negatively.
He added that PTI parliamentary leader Shahid Khattak and the provincial information minister had been barred from appearing in the media.
He also said that K-P ministers were being taken away by people in plain clothes and that the province was being pushed in a different direction.
Afridi also criticised the closure of the provincial secretariat following a security alert, questioning why government operations had been halted when the area was already under security control. “The entire cantonment is under their control. How can there be a threat here?” he asked.
He said he had personally reopened the mosque inside the secretariat after it was closed over the rumoured security threat and offered prayers there. He also walked around the premises before urging people in K-P not to be afraid. “Till your CM is with you, no one will look at the province with an evil eye,” he added.
Hotels closed in Faizabad
Meanwhile, all hotels within the Faizabad area have been ordered to close ahead of the possible PTI long march. Restaurants and shopkeepers have also been directed to close their businesses by this evening.
Guest houses and transport terminals at Faizabad have been ordered to close from tonight, according to police sources.
All hostels in and around Faizabad have also been directed to be vacated by tonight. Hotel, restaurant and hostel owners have been asked to submit affidavits to the relevant police stations, stating that their commercial buildings have been completely vacated.
Police have directed that action be taken against owners who fail to submit the affidavits by tomorrow evening, according to police sources.
Gohar urges govt to listen
The Centre on Thursday moved swiftly to deploy paramilitary Pakistan Rangers in several Punjab districts and the federal capital to assist police in maintaining law and order and responding to potential security threats, according to a notification issued by the Ministry of Interior.
The move came as PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan urged the government to open negotiations over the party’s planned September 27 long march, warning that political workers should not be confronted with force.
He said his party did not want the public and law-enforcement personnel to come face to face.
Speaking to the media outside Parliament, Gohar said dialogue was essential given the seriousness of the situation and the fact that a major political party was preparing for a long march. He urged the government not to use net launchers against those taking part in the protest.
Read: Rule of law, supremacy of Constitution to prevail during PTI long march to Islamabad: Gohar
He said political workers were not supposed to be dealt with through such measures. Instead, their grievances should be heard and resolved, they should be provided justice and their concerns considered seriously, with both sides putting their egos aside.
Gohar said the entire issue had been turned into a battle of egos and that the government would have to set aside its ego.
He said the use of net launchers should be abandoned and a way found to ensure serenity, adding that PTI did not want the public and law-enforcement personnel to confront one another.
“We are saying that our voice should be heard. We are peaceful and are coming out for our rights. We are raising the voice for justice and have repeatedly said that we were not heard and were not given justice,” he said.
Gohar said ministers could issue whatever statements they wished, but no minister had said that the government had listened to PTI’s concerns and delivered justice.
He said the party had announced its programme well in advance and there would be no change in it.
Hazara routes blocked
Hazara road links with Punjab have been severed as authorities took measures to prevent the PTI from holding its proposed long march on September 27, causing difficulties for passengers and residents travelling towards Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
The Hassan Abdal Road linking Haripur with Punjab has been blocked with containers at Jhari Kas, while the Haripur-Khanpur-Taxila Road has been closed at Gangu Bahadur by placing containers.
Containers have also been brought to the bridge over the Haro River at Ahata Taxila to block the Haripur-Hattar-Taxila Road. However, traffic on the route remains open for now and is expected to be blocked by Thursday night.
Twin cities brace for PTI march
Preparations to deal with the PTI’s September 27 long march have entered the final phase in Rawalpindi Division, with more than 43,000 personnel to be deployed in Attock, Rawalpindi, Murree, Jhelum and Chakwal to prevent protesters from entering the twin cities.
Police authorities have decided to keep Rawalpindi and Islamabad open, with all preparations in place until the march enters Punjab territory.
Officials will assess the situation under a “wait and see” policy and take a response according to the situation if marchers cross barriers in Punjab and move closer to the twin cities.
In Rawalpindi Division, more than 43,000 police personnel will perform march-related duties in Attock, Rawalpindi, Murree, Jhelum and Chakwal. Of these, 30,000 personnel will be deployed in Attock.
Read more: Govt draws line ahead of PTI march
Around 14,250 personnel will be deployed at sealing points on the M-1 motorway, including Haroon Bridge, Ghazi-Barotha Motorway Bridge, Tower Hill, Hazara Motorway and Pathar Garh.
Another 11,450 personnel will be deployed at sealing points on the N-5 and N-80 routes, including Attock Khurd, Tarbela Road Jhansa, Haro Bridge, Jablat Bridge, Chaska Point and Khushal Garh. Around 5,000 personnel will be deployed at sealing points on the M-14 CPEC route, including Dhok Syedan Interchange and other M-14 points.
All personnel have been directed to perform duty equipped with riot-control equipment and kits.
For transport and logistics, six armoured personnel carrier (APC) vans, two water cannons, 20 prison vans, 50 megaphones and 12 quadcopters, along with operators, have also been requested. Additional surveillance equipment includes 12 quadcopters and their operators.
DATE . 26/Sep/2026