Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Sher Afzal Khan Marwat has said that a turnout of 400,000 people at the party’s September 27 march could pave the way for the release of PTI founder Imran Khan.
In a video message shared on X, Marwat said he believed that, God willing, once Imran Khan is released, he would be able to personally assess and understand the situation in its entirety.
Marwat’s remarks come as PTI intensifies preparations for its planned street movement and September 27 march.
“Imran Khan has been imprisoned for nearly three years, facing solitary confinement, health issues, isolation from the media, and limited access to complete and accurate information,” Marwat said. “Under such complex circumstances, it is unreasonable to expect him to have a comprehensive understanding of every matter,”
Marwat said, ‘It was natural for doubts and suspicions to arise when social media campaigns labelling the party’s own leadership and workers as traitors were circulating.
“I have no doubt that once Khan is released, he will quickly understand the situation and determine for himself who stood by him during difficult times and who betrayed him,” he said.
Marwat reiterated that a turnout of 400,000 people at the September 27 march could clear the path for Imran Khan’s release.
Meanwhile, activities related to the PTI’s planned street movement are underway in Lahore, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi leading the campaign.
Speaking in Lahore, Afridi said, “I am in Lahore today. God willing, we will head out again at 5:00 pm for the street movement. We did not issue a formal call for Lahore yesterday, yet people came out in large numbers on their own initiative.”
He alleged that the Punjab Police blocked their routes with barriers, switched off streetlights along their route, shut down petrol pumps, and prevented owners from refuelling their vehicles.
“The tents at our encampment were dismantled, and workers arriving at the site were arrested,” Afridi said. “The people of Lahore took to the streets in large numbers yesterday without any formal call, and they will come out again today.”
Afridi further criticised the Punjab government and police, urging them to change their approach.
“If this attitude does not change today, a strong reaction will follow the meeting currently underway in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he warned.