Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has convened an important meeting of parliamentary leaders for tomorrow, Monday, with party leaders, parliamentary leaders and cabinet members invited to attend. According to sources, the meeting will discuss the proposed march towards Islamabad, along with other key issues concerning the province and the party.
The meeting is expected to review preparations and matters related to the proposed march, while provincial and political issues will also come under discussion. Further decisions regarding the march and other matters are likely to be taken during the meeting.
The participants are also expected to discuss the date and possible route of the Islamabad march, as well as the future strategy for the protest. Consultations on the current political situation and the party’s future course of action are also expected to take place during the meeting.
On the other hand, addressing a gathering, Junaid Akbar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), issued a warning, saying, “We will carry the dead, and new people will take their place. I call you to witness that we will turn Islamabad into Somnath. The statement has raised questions about whether a protest accompanied by rhetoric about casualties and confrontation can genuinely be described as a peaceful long march.
Political protests and long marches are part of democratic politics. However, social media users and members of the public have questioned the peaceful nature of the proposed protest following remarks referring to fatalities and the destruction of Islamabad.
Junaid Akbar’s remarks triggered strong reactions on social media, with users questioning how the march could be described as peaceful when there is already talk of “carrying the dead.”
Some users and members of the public also called on the government to ensure that any protest or march in Islamabad does not pose a threat to the lives and property of citizens.