No change in PTI’s long march plan: minister
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa information minister Shafi Jan on Thursday said that the PTI’s Sept 27 plan for a long march on Islamabad was unchanged. He, however, said that his party was committed to negotiations and political dialogue. “We [PTI] are open to dialogue but there won’t be any change in the September 27 long march plan unless there is tangible and credible progress on our core…
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa information minister Shafi Jan announced on Thursday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will proceed with its planned long march on September 27 in Islamabad. However, Jan emphasized that the party remains open to negotiations and political dialogue, but any changes to the march plan will only occur if tangible progress is made on their core demands.
The PTI demands include the hearing and fair adjudication of cases against their incarcerated founder, Imran Khan, as well as his transfer to a health facility for proper treatment. The Supreme Court's recent decision granting Imran Khan's transfer to a private hospital was seen as a step forward, but Jan stressed that the government must now implement the order promptly.
He expressed concern over the delay in implementing this court order and called on the federal government to prioritize Imran Khan's health, making the matter a humanitarian and moral issue rather than a political controversy.
Jan reiterated that the PTI's purpose in organizing the march is to secure constitutional, legal, and political rights, not to provoke confrontation. The preparations for the long march will continue until the party's demands are met. Despite not issuing a formal call for a movement since November 26, political restrictions have only intensified. Jan pointed out that his jailed leader has been in isolation for a long time, with his family only having met him after approximately 265 days.
The minister also revealed that KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi is personally handling the situation and will be visiting Hangu on Saturday and Buner on Sunday as part of the street movement. Afridi will later travel to other regions of the province, and consultations with allied parties will continue for a broader political outreach campaign in Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan.
Jan firmly denied rumors of any deal with the federal government, stating categorically that there is no agreement, backchannel contact, or intention to enter into any secretive arrangement.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
