Staging protests a legal and constitutional right, says KP CM ahead of PTI's Sept 27 long march

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

Afridi claimed that an assassination attempt was made on Communications and Works Minister Shakil Khan, who narrowly escaped an abduction attempt. He also alleged that Public Health Engineering Minister Fazal Shakoor was abducted by plainclothes individuals, who then opened fire on his vehicle. Afridi emphasized that such treatment of cabinet members is "unacceptable" and questioned the motives behind these attacks.

He warned that the province would be cut off from the rest of Pakistan, with all routes to it closed, and asked if this is part of a conspiracy intended to repeat the East Pakistan tragedy. Afridi assured that KP is and will remain an integral part of Pakistan and advised the bureaucracy, police, deputy commissioners, and district police officers not to fear unlawful orders.

He reiterated that the right to peaceful protest is enshrined in the Constitution, and his party will continue to hold protests until their voices are heard. Afridi urged the people of KP and Pakistan not to panic or be afraid, emphasizing that preparations for maintaining security and handling any emergency situation are underway in light of the potential PTI-led protests.