PTI long march will go beyond Swabi, KP CM tells protesters on way to Charsadda

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi led protesters from the party PTI on the sixth day of a march to Charsadda, a city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. The protest aims to demand the release of PTI founder Imran Khan, who is currently in jail. The route of the march has been altered multiple times since its beginning on October 4, but the final destination remains uncertain beyond Swabi.

On the journey to Charsadda, CM Afridi encouraged the protesters not to worry, as they have plans to proceed further after reaching Swabi. The march has thus far remained within the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the PTI holds power. Initial talks with the federal government regarding the protest failed to resolve their differences, primarily due to disagreements on counterterrorism policy.

The federal government cautioned the PTI against marching beyond Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and linked the protest to potential emergency situations or a governor's rule in the province. CM Afridi dismissed the government's warnings as "empty threats" and assured the protesters that they would remain safe after crossing the province's boundary.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi challenged the PTI protesters to cross Swabi and accused the opposition party of having no concrete plan for reaching Swabi on October 11. Kundi also criticized senior PTI leaders for allegedly hiding in Islamabad while others were engaged in strikes across Sindh and Punjab. He questioned the PTI about the lack of participation from their supporters in those regions.

Kundi demanded the resignation of the KP CM and his cabinet, accusing them of corruption and failing to protect the people and the nation. He vowed to protect the province from terrorism and maintain law and order.