Key Takeaways
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi launched the PTI’s long march towards Islamabad.
- The convoy entered Karak district after starting from Lakki Marwat.
- The protest aims to demand the release of jailed party founder Imran Khan.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi launched the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march towards Islamabad on October 4, 2026, despite warnings from the federal government. The convoy, which began from Lakki Marwat, entered Karak district by late Sunday night, reaching Hamidan Chowk.
Afridi, addressing thousands of supporters in Lakki Marwat, declared, 'We are not ‘yes-men’; we are soldiers of Imran Khan, and we will carry forward his policies.' He urged the public to step out of their homes for the sake of Pakistan, emphasizing the importance of Imran Khan’s vision and policies.
The march, which was launched from Gandi Chowk on the Peshawar-Karachi Indus Highway, is expected to conclude at D-Chowk. In Lakki Marwat, an AFP journalist observed thousands of people taking to the streets, carrying red and green flags of the PTI, and a billboard reading 'release Imran Khan.'
Afridi maintained that the PTI’s negotiating committee had gone to Islamabad to lower the political temperature, but those making decisions behind closed doors had sabotaged the talks. He accused the federal government of wanting their will to prevail in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, declaring that only Imran Khan’s vision and policies would be implemented.
Addressing the crowd, Afridi repeatedly asked whether they supported a military operation, asking those opposed to it to raise their hands. He questioned the policy being followed to tackle terrorism, stating, 'What kind of policy is this, where terrorism has persisted for 22 years?' He insisted that there had been peace during Imran’s government because his policies were sound, but following the ‘regime change operation,’ terrorists were resettled, leading to ‘infinite terrorism.’
The chief minister further defended his party’s plan to resettle members of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, claiming, 'We will eradicate terrorism, and if our policy is implemented, we will restore peace within 100 days.'
The federal government has vowed to prevent any violent gatherings in the capital, with heavy police deployment in place for the march. The convoy led by the KP chief minister has entered Karak district and is expected to continue its journey towards Islamabad.
The long march is a significant political move by the PTI, aimed at drawing attention to the party’s demands and the release of Imran Khan, who is currently in prison.
We are not ‘yes-men’; we are soldiers of Imran Khan, and we will carry forward his policies.
Sohail Afridi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister
What kind of policy is this, where terrorism has persisted for 22 years?
Sohail Afridi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister
