‘We Will March No Matter What’: Sohail Afridi to Announce PTI Long March Plan After Consultations
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march towards Islamabad will take place “under all circumstances,” adding that the detailed strategy would be announced after consultations with the party’s political committee.
Addressing a press conference in Peshawar, Afridi said, “Our long march will take place no matter what. Our march is peaceful. Whether they place containers on the roads, lay spikes or even open fire, this time when we come out, we will put an end to this corrupt system once and for all.”
He said a meeting of the party’s political committee was still underway and that he was also travelling to Charsadda. The strategy for the long march would be announced after consultations with the committee, he added.
ان گھٹیا لوگوں کو میں تو پختون نہیں مانتی اور جو ان کو پختون کہیں وہ گالی دے رہے ہیں پختونوں کو
یہ گندے،گھٹیا جنگلی ہیں اور بدقسمتی سے پختونوں پہ مسلط ہیں pic.twitter.com/UJiAb6wZjg— Azma Zahid Bokhari (@AzmaBokhariPMLN) September 12, 2026
At the beginning of the press conference, a video was shown purportedly showing spikes placed across the Attock Bridge. Referring to the footage, Afridi questioned why a bridge connecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with Punjab had allegedly been made inaccessible.
He asked whether the people of KP should interpret the development as an attempt to cut the province off from the rest of the country.
Afridi is among the PTI leaders expected to lead the announced march towards Islamabad on September 27. Federal government representatives and PML-N leaders have said the protest should be postponed, while the government has taken several measures to prevent protesters from reaching the capital.
PTI leaders, however, have maintained that the protest would not be postponed until their demands, including the release of party founder Imran Khan, are addressed.
Meanwhile, sources said PTI leadership had decided to postpone the long march until October 5, with a formal announcement expected later in the day.
Afridi also referred to remarks attributed to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz regarding security threats from neighbouring provinces. He questioned whether statements describing people in KP in derogatory terms indicated that efforts were being made to create divisions within Pakistan.
He said Pakistan would not be allowed to break apart and that his party would work to protect the country, while also expressing concerns over what he described as the intentions behind recent political statements.
The KP chief minister further accused Punjab authorities of entering the province and engaging in confrontations with government officials. He alleged that opposition forces were focusing their attention on PTI ministers and attempting to create uncertainty and panic by arresting party leaders.
Afridi said those who believed such measures would frighten PTI leaders or force them to abandon their objectives were mistaken.
Earlier, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and other opposition leaders met with Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Aain Pakistan chief Mahmood Khan Achakzai. According to a statement issued by Achakzai on social media, the meeting discussed preparations and arrangements for the September 27 march as well as the future political strategy.
The meeting also reviewed the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, law and order, challenges to provincial autonomy and the broader political situation in the country. The participants agreed to further strengthen coordination and consultations among opposition parties.
‘Terrorists Cannot Intimidate Us’
Earlier, Sohail Afridi visited the Civil Secretariat building, which had been evacuated following a reported security threat, and offered Friday prayers at the mosque there alongside the chief secretary.
During the press conference, Afridi described the security threat as “fake” and said politicians should not stoop to a level where they would be unable to face one another in the future.
He questioned how a terrorist could reach the Civil Secretariat if the building was located in the Cantonment area and under the control of security institutions.
After Friday prayers, Afridi received a detailed briefing at the Chief Secretary’s Office on the overall security situation in the province and issued necessary directions to the relevant authorities.
The chief minister said offering prayers at the Civil Secretariat mosque was a clear message against terrorism, adding that terrorists could not intimidate the government or the people.
He said the government would confront terrorism with full force and would not compromise on the protection of the lives and property of citizens.
