PTI begins first phase of long march amid mounting political tensions

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday launched the first phase of its long march from Lakki Marwat to Swabi amid a government-opposition deadlock and mounting political tensions, with no plan for a march towards Islamabad announced so far.

The long march, initially scheduled for September 27, was postponed to October 4, but the standoff between the federal and provincial governments remains unresolved.

On Saturday, talks between the government and opposition failed to break the deadlock over the PTI’s long march, with both sides maintaining their positions and pressing competing demands. The talks, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, followed an initial round on Friday in which the two sides exchanged their positions but failed to reach an agreement.

According to the statement issued by the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, the first phase of the long march would begin today, October 4, at 1pm from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat, where caravans arriving from different districts would join.

"Caravans from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat will join the long march at Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat. The participants will stay overnight near Karak," he said.

CM Afridi added that on Monday, October 5, people from Karak would join the long march at noon and then the caravan would depart at 12:30pm and stay overnight near Kohat.

He said that on Tuesday, October 6, caravans from Kohat, Hangu, Kurram and Orakzai would join at noon. The caravan would depart from Kohat towards Peshawar and stay overnight near Matni in Peshawar.

"On Wednesday, October 7, the caravan will depart from Budh Bair in Peshawar at 12:30pm, where people from Khyber district will also join the long march. Caravans from other constituencies of Peshawar will join the march at the Kohat Road bridge and motorway toll plaza, while participants will stay overnight near the Charsadda interchange," he added.

CM Afridi said that on Thursday, October 8, the caravan would depart from the Charsadda interchange at 12:30pm, where caravans from Charsadda and Mohmand would join.

"People from across K-P would gather at Khairabad on October 8 and stay there overnight. The next phase of the long march will also be announced at Khairabad," he added.

Marathon talks between the government and opposition on Saturday failed to find a middle ground in an effort to break the deadlock over the PTI's long march, as both sides pressed competing demands and remained at an impasse.

The talks, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, followed an initial round on Friday in which the two sides exchanged their positions but failed to reach an agreement.

The government wanted the PTI to take the initiative by cancelling the march, while the opposition wanted the government to first facilitate a meeting with its jailed founder, according to sources familiar with the talks.