Sohail Afridi Warns of 24-Hour Mobilisation Ahead of October 4 PTI Long March

ISLAMABAD:Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has warned that millions of PTI workers could take to the streets within 24 hours if an emergency situation or any move is made against his government ahead of the party’s planned long march.

In a post on X, Afridi said preparations for the October 4 march were complete and claimed that a large number of workers were ready to participate in what he described as a peaceful long march. He said that, in the event of an emergency, his supporters could be mobilised within 24 hours.

Speaking to senior journalists at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, Afridi said a large number of vehicles and motorcycles had been arranged for the march. He reiterated that the PTI long march would depart from Peshawar for Islamabad on October 4. The party had earlier postponed the march from September 27 to October 4 following a decision by its political committee.

Afridi also warned of a strong public reaction if the federal government attempted to impose governor’s rule in KP or disqualify him. He said that if he were removed or disqualified, PTI founder Imran Khan would decide his replacement as chief minister.

The KP chief minister gave the federal government seven days to resolve the political dispute through negotiations. He said the October 4 march would go ahead and that the September 27 postponement had been made as part of a political strategy.

Afridi rejected characterisations of his supporters as an armed group, saying they were political workers. He also criticised federal government statements concerning PTI and warned that any unconstitutional attempt to impose governor’s rule or disqualify him could trigger a significant public reaction.

Defending the performance of his provincial government, Afridi claimed that KP’s revenue had increased from Rs64 billion to Rs150 billion and said the target was to raise it further to Rs200 billion. Independent reporting has also put the province’s own-source revenue at around Rs150.84 billion, with a current-year target of Rs182 billion.

He further said that modern 1,000-bed hospitals were being constructed in Peshawar and Malakand. He attributed billions of rupees in annual economic losses to tensions with Afghanistan and border closures, and called for negotiations with the Afghan government through a national jirga.

The October 4 march remains the PTI’s announced schedule, while the federal government and the KP administration continue to exchange statements over the political dispute and the possibility of negotiations.