KP CM Sohail Afridi Launches Long March From Lakki Marwat
The march comes as talks between the government and opposition remain deadlocked.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday launched a long march from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat, with PTI leaders and supporters beginning the first phase of the planned mobilisation.
PTI leader Junaid Akbar and other party leaders are accompanying the chief minister in the march.
Afridi said the march would reach Khairabad on October 8, where the next course of action would be announced.
Afridi Shares Long March Schedule
Earlier, the KP chief minister shared the march schedule in a post on X, saying the first phase would begin from Gandi Chowk, Lakki Marwat.
He said people from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South and North Waziristan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat would join the long march.
According to the schedule, the convoy will stop near Karak overnight, while people from Karak will join the march at noon on October 5.
Afridi said the march would depart from the Charsadda Interchange at 12:30 pm on October 8, where participants from Charsadda and Mohmand would join the convoy.
“People from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will gather at Khairabad on October 8 and spend the night there. God willing, the next course of action will be announced there,” Afridi said.
PTI-Government Talks Remain Deadlocked
The long march comes as talks between the government and opposition remain deadlocked.
In a video statement, PTI leader Asad Qaiser said access to PTI founder Imran Khan was the fundamental reason behind the deadlock.
He said the government had maintained that access to the PTI founder would not be included in the agreement.
“If access is not provided, how will consultations take place?” Qaiser said.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the opposition delegation maintained its position that counterterrorism operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be conducted on the basis of an agreement between the federal and provincial governments.
He said such an agreement should be formulated in consultation with political parties represented in the KP Assembly.
Raja said the government delegation rejected the opposition’s position and insisted that the provincial government accept all measures initiated unilaterally.
Long March Will Not Be Allowed Into Islamabad: Rana Sanaullah
Meanwhile, Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah said the long march would not be allowed to enter Islamabad.
He said any attempt to create unrest would be prevented through the force of law, adding that no time had yet been fixed for another round of negotiations.
Rana Sanaullah said an agreement could not be reached because the KP government was unwilling to give assurances that it would support security forces and play its role in operations against terrorism.
Mohsin Naqvi Meets KP Governor in Peshawar
Separately, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived at the Governor House in Peshawar after addressing a press conference in Lahore and held a meeting with KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief secretary was also present at the meeting.
According to sources, the meeting discussed the law and order situation in the province as well as PTI’s long march.
