Kundi challenges PTI long march participants to cross Swabi

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi challenged participants of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march to cross Swabi on Friday. The district, located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and bordering Punjab’s Attock, has been announced as the final destination of the march, which aims to demand the release of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan.

The route of the march has undergone several changes since its launch on October 4, and the destination remains uncertain. So far, the march has been confined to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the PTI holds power. Kundi questioned the PTI's ability to reach Swabi on October 11, predicting they may instead stop in Charsadda, Mardan, or Afghanistan via Dir.

He accused senior PTI leaders of hiding in Islamabad while claiming that the party had failed to organize successful marches in Sindh and Punjab. Kundi also cited the absence of PTI members on the long march's trucks, questioning their participation. Responding to allegations that KP lawmakers and cabinet members were being "abducted," Kundi demanded that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi disclose the perpetrators, asserting that the state could not protect its officials.

He further called for the resignation of the KP CM and his cabinet, accusing them of corruption and working only for personal gain. Kundi vowed to protect the province from terrorism and claimed that doctors, teachers, nurses, and municipal officers are on strike in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He stated that no province can function without federal assistance, but the PTI continues to challenge the federal government.

Kundi dismissed the PTI's long march as a "Lucky Irani Circus," predicting they would turn back whenever they approached Swabi. He also criticized the government's recent meeting with the chief secretary and inspector general, stating that they are busy with their own "circus." Kundi emphasized that terrorism is their "red line," and the province cannot be handed over to terrorists.