Pakistan's jailed former PM Khan's sons told DW the authorities are cracking down ahead of new PTI protests

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi emphasized on Wednesday that staging a protest is a legal and constitutional right ahead of the PTI's scheduled long march to Islamabad on September 27. At a cabinet meeting in Peshawar, Afridi alleged that plainclothes individuals had been targeting PTI workers, office-bearers, and elected representatives over the past three to four days.

He claimed an assassination attempt was made on Communications and Works Minister Shakil Khan, who managed to escape an abduction attempt. Afridi also alleged that Public Health Engineering Minister Fazal Shakoor was abducted and had his car fired upon by plainclothes individuals. The CM stressed that the treatment of provincial cabinet members was "unacceptable" and accused opposition leaders of stirring fear among the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Afridi threatened to cut the province off from the rest of Pakistan and close all routes into it, questioning if there was a conspiracy underway to repeat the East Pakistan tragedy. He urged provincial government officials not to obey unlawful orders and affirmed that the right to peaceful protest is enshrined in the Constitution.

Afridi's message to the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan at large was to remain calm and not be afraid. Security preparations for potential protests and emergencies in Islamabad are underway. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had previously warned the PTI against its long march, stating that the government would not leave any loopholes in its response if the party proceeded with the demonstration.