PTI leadership backs Sept 27 long March as KP CM rejects ‘secret deal’ claims

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership and the Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) alliance are fully supporting the planned long march towards Islamabad on September 27.

Afridi said the date for the protest was finalised after consultations among PTI’s central and provincial leadership as well as its allied group. He stressed that the decision had been taken collectively and that the party’s leadership across the provinces was on board with the plan.

Afridi’s comments came after reports that Aleema Khan, the sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, had questioned why the long march was scheduled for September 27 instead of an earlier date. Responding to the concerns, Afridi described Aleema as a non-political person who was speaking in her capacity as Imran Khan’s sister. He said he was confident that he could satisfy her concerns by explaining the reasons and circumstances behind the decision.

The KP chief minister also rejected allegations made by some PTI leaders based abroad that he had agreed to the September 27 date as part of a secret deal with the government. Afridi said those making such accusations should have contacted him directly before discussing the matter publicly.

He said such allegations could mislead PTI supporters and create unnecessary confusion. According to Afridi, individuals who were genuinely sincere with Imran Khan and the party should first seek clarification before making accusations against fellow party leaders.

Responding to a specific allegation that he had met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and another government official on August 4 before announcing the date of the long march, Afridi categorically denied the claim. He described the allegation as completely baseless and said he had been present at the KP House in Islamabad from noon until around 4:30pm that day.

Afridi explained that he had been attending meetings related to the province’s Pado KP and telemedicine initiatives during that period. He also rejected the suggestion that the alleged meeting had taken place in Peshawar, reiterating that he was in Islamabad at the time.

The controversy comes as PTI prepares for what its leaders describe as a major mobilisation aimed at securing the release of Imran Khan. A day earlier, PTI leader Shafi Jan said the party had no option left except to launch the long march, which he described as its “last option”.

Jan said PTI workers were protesting because they believed their concerns were not being heard. He claimed that the party would march from Peshawar towards Islamabad with around two million people and said the demonstration would have an impact across the country.

Imran Khan, 73, has remained in prison since August 2023 following convictions in several cases. PTI has repeatedly rejected the allegations against its founder and described the legal proceedings as politically motivated.

Since his removal from office through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, Imran Khan has faced numerous legal cases, including those involving state gifts and his marriage. Although some of his convictions have been suspended or overturned, several appeals are still pending before higher courts. Imran Khan and PTI continue to deny any wrongdoing and maintain that the cases against him are politically driven.