Rana Sanaullah Sets Condition for Change in KP Emergency Situation as Sohail Afridi Announces Long March Plan
ISLAMABAD:Prime Minister’s Adviser and Senator Rana Sanaullah has said that the emergency situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa could change if Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Chief Minister Sohail Afridi commit to standing alongside the federal government and security forces in the fight against terrorism.
Speaking on Geo News, Rana Sanaullah said PTI’s decision to proceed with its long march towards Islamabad was not the fundamental issue.
He said progress could be made whether PTI brought its march to Islamabad or continued it elsewhere while maintaining its stated commitments.
According to Rana Sanaullah, a clear declaration by PTI’s leadership and Sohail Afridi that they would fully support the federal government and security forces in the counterterrorism campaign could bring a change in the prevailing emergency situation in the province.
However, he maintained that if PTI did not agree to this position, the location of its long march, whether in Islamabad or elsewhere, would make little difference.
### Sohail Afridi Announces Next Phase of Long March
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has announced the schedule for the next phase of PTI’s long march, inviting supporters from across Pakistan to gather at Swabi Interchange on October 11.
Addressing march participants, Afridi rejected attempts to associate PTI with the Taliban or terrorist groups. He referred to the Pakistan Peoples Party government in 1994, when Naseerullah Babar served as interior minister, arguing that references to the Taliban predated PTI’s formation.
Afridi said the next phase of the movement would involve supporters inside and outside Pakistan. He urged overseas Pakistanis to organise events abroad and record videos, while also calling on people in Pakistan to produce videos in support of the campaign.
“Do not be afraid,” he told supporters while inviting people from across the country to join the gathering at Swabi Interchange on October 11.
### Regional Mobilisation Scheduled for October 13
Announcing further details, the chief minister said caravans from across Pakistan were being invited to reach Swabi Interchange on October 11.
He said caravans from Peshawar, Malakand, Karak and Kohat divisions would arrive directly at Swabi Interchange on October 13.
Afridi added that the plan for the Hazara region would be announced on October 13. Caravans from Dera Ismail Khan and Bannu divisions would travel via the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route to join the march.
He said he would announce the movement’s subsequent course of action at Swabi Interchange on October 13.
The latest developments highlight the continuing political tensions between the federal government and PTI over the party’s protest campaign and the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
