PTI says only Imran can halt long march

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march entered its fourth day on Wednesday, with the party rejecting government pressure to end the protest and insisting that only jailed party founder Imran Khan can decide whether the march should be called off.

PTI Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa spokesperson Shaukat Yousafzai dismissed warnings of governor’s rule in the province. He said the party would not abandon its demands because of pressure from the federal government.

Yousafzai also criticised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s repeated calls for dialogue. He urged the government to move beyond public statements and take practical steps to address the opposition’s demands.

He said PTI wanted access to Imran Khan and his transfer to a hospital. The party has also demanded the release of imprisoned women, including Imran Khan’s sisters.

Yousafzai said the government should respect decisions of the high courts and the Supreme Court. He also rejected criticism of K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and defended the provincial government’s position on the ongoing protest.

Commenting on Governor Faisal Karim Kundi’s recent activities, Yousafzai questioned his authority to summon senior provincial officials. He argued that the 18th Amendment had significantly limited the governor’s powers.

The PTI leader also linked the political dispute to the security situation in K-P. He said terrorism could not be tackled by weakening the province’s elected government or undermining its political mandate.

He called for all stakeholders to sit together and develop a joint strategy to deal with militancy and other security challenges. He maintained that political disputes could also be resolved through negotiations.

Meanwhile, K-P police have prepared a security plan for the march’s route between Peshawar and Nowshera. Police said drone cameras would be used to monitor the procession and surrounding areas.

Around 300 police personnel are expected to be deployed along the march and its routes. Three senior police officers have been assigned responsibility for security in Peshawar’s city, suburban and Ring Road areas. Police patrol units will also remain stationed at the city’s entry and exit points.

The march, led by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, has also changed its route. Instead of heading directly towards Peshawar, the procession will first move towards Khyber before returning to the provincial capital.

Afridi described the route change as part of the party’s strategy but did not disclose further details.

The caravan began its journey from Lakki Marwat and later moved through Karak and Kohat. Participants from several southern districts, including Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat, joined the procession.