Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march will depart from Peshawar on October 4, while the party will observe October 5 as a “Victory Day” to mark the birthday of its founder, Imran Khan.
Speaking to the media, Afridi said the party’s political committee had discussed the matter in detail and agreed on October 4 as the date for the long march. He said the movement was aimed at what he described as the restoration of the Constitution.
Afridi said peaceful protest was a legitimate way to raise political demands when grievances were not being addressed. He alleged that PTI members and workers were being arrested, but said the party would continue its political struggle peacefully.
He said the October 4 march would remain peaceful and claimed that some elements were attempting to create divisions between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the rest of Pakistan. These were political claims made by Afridi and were not independently established in his remarks.
The chief minister also criticised the federal government over the country’s economic situation and alleged that political and institutional tensions were being prolonged at the expense of the public.
Afridi further called on the judiciary to take notice of what he described as restrictions on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also alleged that PTI workers had faced threats since what he referred to as the “regime change operation”.
Describing the planned march as a test for the party, Afridi said PTI workers were prepared to participate and that the march was intended to press for the party’s demands through political means.
He said PTI wanted its issues to be resolved through dialogue and claimed that public frustration had increased significantly.
Afridi said participants would gather on a single container on October 4 as part of the party’s strategy. He added that October 5, which is Imran Khan’s birthday, would be observed as “Victory Day.”
PTI had originally planned its long march for September 27, but the party has now shifted the date to October 4 amid discussions within its leadership.
