Rule of law, supremacy of Constitution to prevail during PTI long march to Islamabad: Gohar

CM Afridi says PTI has raised its voice through provincial, national assemblies, but has received no positive response

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Monday that the rule of law and supremacy of the Constitution would prevail during the party's long march to Islamabad on September 27, further stating that it would never take "law and order" into its own hands.

The PTI had announced last month that it would march to Islamabad on September 27 to press for the release of party founder Imran Khan. The party has been preparing a central convoy from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), with caravans from other parts of the country expected to join before proceeding towards the federal capital. The federal government has warned the party against going ahead with the march.

In a press conference today at the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar, Gohar emphasised that the party was not going to Islamabad to conquer it or turn it into “Somnath”, adding that “when we go to Islamabad, the supremacy of the Constitution and the law will prevail” and there would be an environment of festivity.

He stressed that PTI would never take "law and order" into its own hands, adding that Pakistan would always come first and peace and order would always come first. “Are we terrorists? We are being told that we will be dealt with like terrorists. We are political figures, and we will not arrive like terrorists”.

وزیراعلیٰ خیبر پختونخوا @SohailAfridiISF کی 27 ستمبر لانگ مارچ کے حوالے سے وزیراعلیٰ ہاؤس پشاور میں اہم پریس کانفرنس۔#LongMarchOnSeptember27th pic.twitter.com/f9Pf8eRSHs

— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 21, 2026

Gohar said Imran was the country's most “popular leader,” and questioned what crime the four women from Imran’s house were jailed for. "PTI is being punished for being peaceful".

He underlined that the PTI’s voice was not being heard, despite approaching the high court 25 times and the Supreme Court 19 times. “We have raised our voice in both Parliament and Senate, and what are we asking for? We are only asking for justice. Provide medical treatment to Imran and give him justice in his cases”.

”ہمیں پرامن رہنے کی سزا مل رہی ہے، عمران خان کے گھر کی 4 خواتین جیل میں ہیں، ہم پرامن تھے، پرامن ہیں اور پرامن رہیں گے، ایک دوسرے کو للکارنے سے حالات بہتر نہیں ہوں گے، ریاست اپنا طرز عمل تبدیل کرنا ہو گا.“-@BarristerGohar pic.twitter.com/NhSdLmIABk

— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 21, 2026

Read: Gohar seeks talks as backchannel cools

The party chairman said the situation would improve only when both sides listened to each other and stopped threatening one another. “The state will have to change its approach and think of the country”.

While talking about the planned long march to Islamabad, Gohar enquired whether protesting was not the PTI’s democratic and constitutional right.

Gohar added that during PTI's tenure, 14 long marches were allowed to take place in three years and their paths were not blocked. “We have not been allowed to hold a long march for four years since our government ended.

“Our 1500 workers have been arrested, and lists have been made for the rest. Five MNAs, a senator, our MPAs, including one from Islamabad and ministers from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are currently under arrest,” he said.

This is #FascismUnderAsimLaw.

KP Provincial Minister, Fazal Shakoor, has been abducted by Pakistan’s intelligence agency. Masked men ambushed his car and opened fire at Peshawar Motorway toll plaza.

Yesterday, an attempt to abduct another Provincial Minister, Shakeel Khan, was… pic.twitter.com/Q7NoZ2dDNC

— PTI (@PTIofficial) September 21, 2026

Gohar underlined that this had been done to show that while PTI held the government in K-P, someone else called the shots in the province. “The people of the province should call the shots”.

He added that PTI had not severed ties and communication channels remained open, noting that the party’s demands were medical treatment for Imran, hearings for his cases, and permission for meetings.

K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said that PTI had faced persistent injustice, coercion and oppression not only in the aftermath of November 26 2024, but ever since April 9 2022.

Read More: Do not 'desire' any confrontation, long march to remain peaceful: CM Afridi

“This oppressive government is responsible for the killing of every party worker, but despite that, we have not submitted, and Imran Khan has not bowed down, even though his wife and family have been targeted. Yesterday, all three of his sisters were abducted,” Afridi remarked.

The chief minister noted that the PTI remained the most “popular party” in the country and Imran remained the most “popular political leader”, adding that in the last two years, since November 26, 2024, PTI had not held any long march or protest rally outside of K-P.

ستائیس کا لانگ مارچ ہر صورت ہوگا اگر یہ لوگ سمجھتے ہیں کہ عمران خان کی بہنوں کو اغواء کرکہ ہم پیچھے ہٹ جائیں گے یا شکیل خان کو اغواء کرنے سے ہم پیچھے ہٹ جائیں گے یا فضل شکور کو اغواء کرنے سے ہم پیچھے ہٹ جائیں گے تو یہ انکی بھول ہے ہم مزید زور سے آئیں گے !!!

وزیراعلی سہیل آفریدی… pic.twitter.com/5xMVD6HAup

— PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (@PTIKPOfficial) September 21, 2026

Afridi further underlined that he and his party had raised their democratic voice through the provincial and national assemblies, but had received no positive response. “I spoke to the fake prime minister, and he said he would consult others before giving an answer”.

He also stated that the Adiala jail superintendent had “tossed court orders into the trash bin”, while noting that there was a ruling by three judges that Imran should be transferred to a hospital.

“It has been nine months since I became chief minister; what protests have I staged?” Afridi asked.

The chief minister underscored that “we are people of the masses and follow democratic paths”, adding that protesting remained their right.

“Those who come to power through the back door resort to oppression and coercion. When they get caught, they play the woman card,” he said.

Afridi stated that it was decided in today’s meeting that the PTI would set out in September and would mobilise peacefully with full force, adding that detaining its ministers would not halt the movement.