Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan reaffirmed on Tuesday that the party’s long march would proceed as planned and that Sohail Afridi would retain his role as Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This statement came amid internal calls within the party to reconsider the march due to concerns over potential federal government actions.
Earlier in the day, PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa information secretary, Shaukat Yousafzai, urged Gohar to halt the long march, warning that the federal government might exploit the situation to impose emergency rule in the province. Yousafzai highlighted fears that the government could justify such a move by citing a possible threat from Afghanistan, referencing reports of Afghan forces advancing toward Pakistan’s border and attributing recent increases in terrorism in KP to the provincial administration.
Addressing reporters, Gohar dismissed any notion of changing the provincial leadership, emphasizing that no directives had been received to alter Afridi’s position. He stressed that Afridi enjoyed the full support of PTI founder Imran Khan and that the united opposition alliance stood firmly behind the party. “Sohail Afridi will remain Chief Minister; he has the backing of the PTI founder,” Gohar stated.
Regarding the long march, Gohar was resolute: “Our long march stands.” He assured that PTI consistently consults its opposition allies about such initiatives and will continue to keep them informed. “We have always taken our allies into confidence. Whatever we do, we keep our allies informed,” he added.
In his letter, Yousafzai expressed concern that Afridi was being portrayed as a facilitator of terrorists, describing this as a highly dangerous development. He suggested that the federal government, unsettled by the long march, might be aiming to dissolve the provincial government by accusing it of supporting terrorism. Such allegations could lead to severe consequences, including bans on political activities or even the party itself.
Yousafzai recommended postponing the long march in the national interest while continuing to assert the legitimacy of PTI’s demands. He cited Imran Khan’s previous decision to end a long march upon reaching Islamabad to protect party workers as a precedent for exercising caution. Yousafzai outlined two possible paths for PTI: confrontation with the state, risking the provincial government and party workers’ safety, or pursuing negotiations to build a constructive narrative for resolving the crisis. He emphasized that the final decision rested with Gohar, noting that party workers were the most valuable asset.
On the broader political front, Gohar confirmed that the opposition alliance remained united in support of PTI. He noted ongoing discussions with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), stating that PTI had presented several proposals and anticipated a positive response from the PPP within a few days.
Gohar also highlighted the critical role political parties play in strengthening democracy, asserting that the country’s future depends on robust democratic institutions. He underscored the importance of provincial autonomy as defined by the Constitution and mentioned unspecified developments that raised concerns requiring attention. Efforts were reportedly underway to convene an All Parties Conference to address these issues.
Regarding the economy, Gohar called for collective political efforts to alleviate inflation and implement necessary measures to ensure national security and political stability. He emphasized that cooperation among all parties was essential to protect the public from economic hardships.
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