Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has announced that a grand political gathering will be held in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on April 19.
He said the event is being organised on the instructions of Imran Khan, who directed that a public rally be arranged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within 10 days.
According to the chief minister, the large-scale gathering will take place at Mardan Railway Ground at 3:00 PM on April 19.
In a statement, he said that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi are being unjustly imprisoned, adding that the leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has faced continuous oppression over the past several years.
Despite what he described as ongoing challenges, Afridi said his party would prove that PTI remains the largest political force in Pakistan. He added that the rally would demonstrate to the world that even in Imran Khan’s absence, the party can still mobilise massive political support.
He further alleged that opponents, particularly those on digital platforms, are spreading negative propaganda to undermine the event.
The chief minister said the rally would send a message that the nation still stands with Imran Khan, and he invited all citizens of Pakistan to participate in the gathering.
Imran Khan bars PTI leaders from holding rally in Islamabad
On the other hand Imran Khan has directed the leadership of PTI to avoid holding any form of protest in Islamabad until further notice, while continuing a nationwide protest movement across the country.
According to media reports, the message was conveyed to the party leadership through his lawyer Sultan Safdar. It stated that the protest campaign should begin from different cities across Pakistan instead of the capital.
Sources further said that Imran Khan has also expressed reservations over ongoing negotiations led by Opposition Leader in the National Assembly Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Opposition Leader in the Senate Raja Nasir Abbas, stating that the dialogue process has been prolonged without any clear progress.
He is also reported to have shown dissatisfaction with the performance of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and emphasised the need for a more effective political strategy within the party.
Also read: PTI postpones its jalsa in Rawalpindi on Imran Khan’s directions: Barrister Gohar Khan
