‘We are Imran’s soldiers’: Afridi rallies PTI

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday formally launched the PTI’s long march towards Islamabad from Lakki Marwat, declaring that the provincial government would not accept policies that it believes are against the interests of the people of KP.

Afridi arrived in Lakki Marwat by helicopter and addressed thousands of PTI supporters gathered at Gandi Chowk on the Peshawar-Karachi Indus Highway. The march is being held to demand the release of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, who remains imprisoned.

Addressing the gathering, Afridi urged supporters to come out for what he described as a struggle for the country. He said Imran Khan, his wife and sisters were in prison and called on the participants to demonstrate their support for the PTI founder.

The chief minister also criticised the government’s approach to negotiations with the PTI. He claimed that the party’s negotiating team had travelled to Islamabad in an effort to reduce political tensions, but said those making decisions behind closed doors had undermined the talks.

Afridi strongly defended the PTI’s political position in KP. He said the province would follow Imran Khan’s vision and policies and declared that PTI leaders were not “yes-men”.

He also criticised the government’s strategy for dealing with terrorism. Afridi questioned why militancy had continued for years and claimed that the security situation had deteriorated after Imran Khan’s government was removed from power.

The chief minister promised that the PTI would work to eliminate terrorism and restore peace in the province if its policies were implemented.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi criticised Afridi for allegedly using a state helicopter to attend the political gathering. They said the use of government resources for the march could violate court directions regarding political gatherings.

PTI workers from several southern districts, including Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and the two Waziristan districts, joined or prepared to join the march. Some participants facing restrictions were expected to join the convoy later.

Former KP chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur also led a separate caravan from Dera Ismail Khan towards Lakki Marwat. Before departure, he urged workers to remain peaceful and avoid clashes, vandalism or confrontation with law enforcement.

The PTI had originally announced the Islamabad march for September 27 but later postponed it to October 4. The latest protest has intensified tensions between the federal government and the PTI, with officials warning that protesters will not be allowed to enter Islamabad.