Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi arrived at Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat by helicopter on Sunday to spearhead the initial phase of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march. This development came hours after government-opposition talks aimed at preventing the protest ended without agreement.
A special helipad near Maidadkhel had been prepared for Afridi’s arrival, after which he proceeded to the container designated for the march, where PTI leaders and supporters gathered for mobilisation. The march demands the release of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, who remains imprisoned in Adiala jail.
The first phase of the march is planned to traverse Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the coming days. Supporters from across the province are expected to assemble at Khairabad on October 8, where the party intends to unveil its subsequent strategy.
This escalation followed two days of unsuccessful negotiations between the government and opposition, which continued until approximately 2:30 a.m. on Sunday. The government attributed the breakdown to Afridi, with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stating that both sides had nearly finalized a “win-win” agreement before Afridi requested alterations to the draft.
Naqvi emphasized the government’s primary demand for KP’s cooperation in federal counterterrorism efforts, while expressing willingness to address the opposition’s political concerns. Contrarily, PTI insisted on a jointly agreed counterterrorism plan for the province, rejecting unilateral security decisions.
After talks collapsed, PTI confirmed it would proceed with the march, while the federal government declared that protesters would not be permitted entry into Islamabad.
Meanwhile, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned Afridi’s use of an official helicopter for the political event, labeling it contempt of court and a breach of Islamabad High Court orders. Kundi questioned the example set by the chief minister’s disregard for judicial directives and use of state resources for political purposes, suggesting it undermines law enforcement among party workers.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also criticized Afridi’s helicopter use, calling it a violation of court orders. Tarar remarked on the province’s growing terrorism concerns, contrasting them with Afridi’s actions.
The Islamabad High Court had earlier issued rulings restricting the use of state resources and regulating political protests amid legal challenges to PTI’s planned mobilisation.
Prior to Afridi’s arrival, PTI supporters led by former KP chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur departed from Dera Ismail Khan to join the march. Gandapur urged participants to maintain peace, discipline, and avoid confrontations or property damage, emphasizing a “live and let live” approach throughout the protest. He clarified that those engaging in roadblocks or clashes were not affiliated with PTI.
The convoy from DI Khan was set to pass through Yarik and Pezu before joining the main gathering at Gandi Chowk. Additional PTI supporters from Bannu, DI Khan, Tank, North Waziristan, and South Waziristan were also expected to converge at the same location.
Tariq Saad, Special Assistant to the KP chief minister for Home and Tribal Affairs, confirmed the march would commence from Gandi Chowk as per party leadership’s directive. He noted that workers from southern districts would join the procession, while those restricted by curfews or law enforcement measures would merge with the march en route to Peshawar.
The march schedule outlined by Afridi includes supporters from Tank, DI Khan, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bannu, and Lakki Marwat joining on October 4 at Gandi Chowk, with an overnight stay near Karak. The procession would advance to Kohat on October 5, where participants from Kohat, Hangu, Kurram, and Orakzai are expected to join the following day.
The route continues toward Peshawar, with an overnight stop near Mattani. On October 7, the caravan is set to depart Budh Bair in Peshawar, incorporating participants from Khyber district and other areas before proceeding to Charsadda. The march is scheduled to resume from Charsadda Interchange on October 8, with supporters from Charsadda and Mohmand joining before a large gathering at Khairabad. Afridi has indicated that the next phase of the movement will be announced there.
This march marks a significant intensification in PTI’s confrontation with the federal government, which has repeatedly warned against any attempts to enter Islamabad. Initially planned for September 27, the march was postponed to October 4. PTI leaders assert the protest will remain peaceful, focusing on the release of Imran Khan and asserting his legal, medical, and visitation rights.
The federal government has cited security concerns and potential law and order disruptions, while also cautioning that KP’s management of security issues might prompt political consequences, including reconsideration of constitutional provisions.
With negotiations now stalled and the march underway, the dispute has shifted from dialogue to street-level confrontation, with both sides maintaining divergent views on resolving the political and security challenges.
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