Afridi-led convoy enters Peshawar as PTI long march continues for 5th day

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A Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi entered Peshawar as the party's long march continued. The protest seeks the release of Imran Khan, amid mobile internet disruptions, reported detentions and disappearances, and disagreement with the federal government over counterterrorism policy.

PESHAWAR: A PTI convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi entered Peshawar on Thursday evening. The route plan for the march, being carried out to demand the release of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan, has undergone multiple changes. While the party initially vowed to march towards Islamabad, its final destination seemingly remains tentative as the KP CM has yet to announce the plan for the trek after Oct 8. A post by the PTI’s official X account shortly after 6pm said the Afridi-led convoy had reached Hayatabad Toll Plaza in Peshawar. It also shared pictures of hundreds of supporters gathered to welcome the KP CM. “The public has shattered the idols of fear and is standing firm with their leader Imran Khan and their elected chief minister,” the post said. “God-willing, by the time it reaches Swabi, this caravan will become the largest long march in Pakistan’s history,” the PTI asserted. Ahead of the protesters’ arrival, an unannounced disruption of mobile and cellular internet services was reported since last night in several areas of the provincial capital. PTI’s march began from Lakki Marwat on Oct 4, from where the protesters trekked to Kohat on the second day and then camped overnight on Oct 6 in Mattani, located on the outskirts of Peshawar. It then reached Khyber on Oct 7. The Centre had warned the party against any protests or gatherings in Islamabad. However, the PTI decided to embark on the march after weekend talks with the federal government failed to bridge their differences for multiple reasons, particularly over the counterterrorism policy. The march was announced as part of the PTI’s nationwide protest, initially scheduled for Sept 27 but was later postponed to Oct 4. Gohar calls for reviewing counterterrorism policy PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said on Thursday that his party had never supported terrorism, adding that, however, the country’s counterterrorism policy needed to be reviewed in the light of changing circumstances. Gohar was speaking to the media in Charsadda, which is expected to be the next stop of the PTI’s march after Peshawar. The PTI chairperson visited the residences of KP Public Health Engineering Minister Fazal Shakoor and MNA Fazal Mohammad Khan, whom the PTI alleges were abducted by unidentified men amid reports of detentions of its workers and members ahead of the march. Gohar expressed concern over their disappearance and demanded their immediate and safe recovery. Speaking to the media at their residences, he noted that 18 days had passed since Shakoor’s alleged abduction and his family had no information about his whereabouts. He urged the relevant authorities to take immediate notice of the matter and ensure that Shakoor and Khan were recovered and reunited with their families. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan speaks to the media in Charsadda on Oct 8. — Photo by Faiz Muhammad Gohar said the “enforced disappearances” were a matter of serious concern and stressed the need for rule of law and protection of citizens’ constitutional rights. If such incidents were taking place in KP, they could also occur in other provinces, he further warned. He also rejected the imposition of governor’s rule or an emergency as a solution to the prevailing situation in KP, as federal ministers continue to indicate the possible enforcement of either of the two, citing terrorism. The warning of a possible emergency or governor’s rule had come ahead of the PTI’s long march and as talks between the opposition party in the Centre and the federal government failed earlier this month. For his part, Gohar said political issues should be resolved through constitutional and democratic means. He called upon the decision-makers to respect the public mandate and elected governments. On the security situation, he asserted that the PTI, its workers and supporters had never supported terrorism. He said the party stood with the state in the fight against terrorism, but the country’s policy on the issue needed to be reviewed in light of changing circumstances. “Terrorism, whether in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan or Sindh, is against Pakistan,” he said, adding that the loss of any Pakistani’s life in the fight against terrorism was a national loss. He called for the implementation of the National Action Plan through a unified national policy rather than politicising the issue. Gohar also defended CM Afridi, saying he had never issued a statement in support of terrorists. He criticised what he described as attempts by some federal ministers to portray PTI as a supporter of terrorism. The PTI chairperson said his party was still ready for meaningful and positive dialogue with its political opponents and expressed hope that Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman would play a constructive role in the prevailing situation. He thanked the JUI-F, Awami National Party and Jamaat-i-Islami for opposing the imposition of gov