Afridi-led PTI convoy moves towards Kohat after Karak stay

KOHAT: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi is set to lead a PTI convoy towards Kohat on Monday as the party continues its long march after government-opposition negotiations failed to resolve differences over the planned protest.

The convoy started its journey from Lakki Marwat on Sunday. It later reached Karak, where Afridi addressed the participants at Khatam-e-Nabuwwat Chowk near the Bannu-Karak border.

The chief minister is expected to address the protesters again before the convoy moves towards Kohat. Internet services have also been suspended in Karak.

The procession is scheduled to continue towards Peshawar after passing through the southern districts. According to the announced route, caravans from Kohat, Hangu, Kurram and Orakzai are expected to join the march on Tuesday before the convoy proceeds towards Peshawar.

The march will then pass through Peshawar, Charsadda and Mohmand before reaching Khairabad on October 8. PTI is expected to announce details of the next phase of the protest at that point.

Meanwhile, PTI leaders Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Salman Akram Raja, Babar Awan and other senior figures are scheduled to address a press conference at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad. The leaders are expected to outline the party’s position on the political situation and other key issues.

The march began after talks between the government and opposition failed to produce an agreement. The negotiations, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, ended without a breakthrough.

The government had asked PTI to call off the march, while the opposition sought assurances that a meeting with jailed PTI founder Imran Khan would be facilitated. PTI subsequently announced that the protest would continue.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi warned that emergency measures could be considered if the situation in the province deteriorated further. He said the president, prime minister and other relevant institutions could take such a decision if deemed necessary.

Afridi, however, has rejected the possibility of governor’s rule or emergency in KP. While addressing march participants, he also opposed military operations and drone attacks in the province.

The chief minister said southern districts had repeatedly faced terrorism and military operations, while civilians had also suffered from collateral damage caused by drone attacks. He maintained that decisions affecting KP should not be taken behind closed doors.