News Desk: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has confirmed that PTI and its political ally, Tehreek Tahaffuz-i-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP), have agreed to hold a long march towards Islamabad on September 27.
Speaking on Geo News programme Capital Talk on Monday, Afridi said PTI’s political leadership across Pakistan and TTAP were on board with the decision to launch the PTI long march to Islamabad.
“The PTI’s political leadership across the country and its ally, TTAP, are all on board with the long march, and they collectively agreed on September 27 as the date,” he said.
Aleema Khan’s reservations over September 27 date
Asked about reservations reportedly expressed by Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan regarding the September 27 date, Afridi said she was a “non-political individual” and would accept the decision after PTI leadership briefed her about the relevant facts and figures.
The KP chief minister also rejected allegations that he had met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi before the date of the Islamabad long march was finalised.
Afridi termed the allegation “rubbish”, saying he was at KP House in Islamabad at the time of the alleged meeting, rather than in Peshawar as claimed.
PTI workers expected to join Islamabad protest
Afridi denied that there was any communication gap between PTI leadership and its workers.
Referring to “D-Chowk, D-Chowk” slogans raised at a recent Peshawar rally, he said PTI leadership had taken a difficult position by attempting to resolve political disputes through mutual understanding and dialogue.
However, he warned that PTI supporters, particularly young people across Pakistan, would come out on September 27.
“I can see passion and a ray of light in their eyes,” he said.
Afridi says he will follow Imran Khan’s instructions
The KP chief minister said he would defer the September 27 PTI long march if Imran Khan instructed him to do so during a meeting at Adiala Jail.
He added that he would also follow the PTI founder’s instructions if asked to facilitate negotiations with the federal government.
Afridi said PTI had been left with no option but to protest after its grievances were allegedly not addressed by the authorities.
He maintained that the party’s protest would be peaceful and constitutionally protected.
KP CM demands justice for Imran Khan
Afridi reiterated PTI’s demand for justice for its founder, saying Imran Khan’s cases should be heard on merit and that he should have access to his personal doctors and quality medical treatment.
He also alleged that Imran Khan was being denied basic rights in Adiala Jail and claimed that members of his family, lawyers and personal physicians were not being allowed to meet him.
The chief minister further accused the federal government and other institutions of interfering in the affairs of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police.
CM criticises Shehbaz Sharif government
During the interview, Afridi criticised the federal government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accusing it of economic inefficiency and poor governance.
He also distanced the KP government from cases registered against journalists in the province, saying his government would not allow actions aimed at restricting journalists.
PTI supports creation of new provinces
On the proposal to create new provinces in Pakistan, Afridi said establishing new administrative units was part of Imran Khan’s vision.
He said PTI supported the creation of new provinces but maintained that such a decision should only be taken by a government with a genuine public mandate.
Imran Khan’s imprisonment and Al-Qadir Trust case
Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 and is serving a 14-year sentence at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail in the £190 million Al-Qadir Trust case.
An Islamabad accountability court sentenced Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi to 14 and seven years in prison, respectively, in January 2025. Both subsequently challenged their convictions before the Islamabad High Court.
The case relates to allegations concerning funds and land linked to Bahria Town Ltd and the settlement of Rs50 billion identified and returned to Pakistan by the United Kingdom during the PTI government.
