Afridi invites people from across country to join PTI's long march at Swabi Interchange on Oct 11
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi invited people from across Pakistan to reach the Swabi Interchange on Oct 11, where the PTI plans to announce the next steps for its long march that is being carried out to demand the release of jailed party founder Imran Khan. The route plan for the march has undergone multiple changes since its launch on Oct 4. While the party initially…
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has welcomed people from all over Pakistan to join the People's Party (PTI) in their long march at Swabi Interchange on October 11. The march aims to demand the release of party founder Imran Khan, currently jailed. The PTI's final destination for the trek remains uncertain, as it has not been announced beyond Swabi. The march has thus far stayed within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where the PTI holds power.
Afridi addressed participants on the journey to Charsadda, assuring them that they should not be worried as "we have to go elsewhere as well after Swabi." He labeled the federal government's warnings as "empty threats" and told the marchers that the federal government "cannot harm the workers after they will cross the province's boundary."
The PTI movement commenced after weekend discussions with the federal government failed to resolve their disagreements, primarily over counterterrorism policy. Federal ministers have cautioned the PTI against leading the march beyond KP, and they are attributing the ongoing disputes to possible emergency or governor's rule in KP.
Afridi announced that convoys from Peshawar, Malakand, Kohat, Bannu, and Dera Ismail Khan divisions would converge at the Swabi Interchange. He also urged the people to participate in the struggle for "Haqiqi Azadi and sovereignty."
Afridi highlighted 14,000 intelligence-based operations and 22 major military operations conducted in KP between 2004 and 2026, yet terrorism has not been eradicated. He criticized the federal government's failure to take his recommendations on eliminating terrorism seriously and accused them of withholding funds from KP. Additionally, Afridi dismissed allegations of the Centre "abducting" KP lawmakers and cabinet members, stating that he could not protect them from within the province.
He vowed to safeguard the province and fight against terrorism, expressing skepticism about the federal government's ability to run a province effectively.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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