‘I’ll lead from the front’: Sohail Afridi vows Imran march

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has announced a major march towards Islamabad on September 27, saying he will personally lead the protest demanding the release of PTI founder Imran Khan.

Addressing a public gathering in Bannu on Sunday, Afridi urged supporters not to be afraid and said more than two million people would take part in the planned demonstration.

“I will be at the front of the march for Imran Khan’s release,” Afridi said, assuring supporters that he would stand with them throughout the protest.

He called on people to remain determined and claimed that a large turnout would make it difficult for authorities to stop the protesters. He also said that those who use oppression are often afraid when confronted by a large public movement.

The chief minister also criticised the federal government, alleging that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had repeatedly been used as “scapegoats” in the past. He accused the authorities of treating the province as an experimental ground and said his administration was independent in making decisions.

Speaking about law and order, Afridi said maintaining peace was a shared responsibility. He assured police personnel that his government stood firmly behind them and was providing funds for modern weapons and improvements to police infrastructure.

Afridi also compared the current security situation with the period between 2018 and 2022, when Imran Khan was prime minister. He claimed that there had been peace and stability across the region during that period and said terrorism had not been a major threat.

According to Afridi, violence and terrorism have returned to the province, with southern districts, particularly Bannu, among the worst affected areas.

He held the federal government and those he alleged were responsible for bringing it to power accountable for the deteriorating security situation.