PTI marchers change route, head to Khyber first

PESHAWAR/KOHAT:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Tuesday said the PTI had originally planned to take the long march towards Peshawar. However, he announced a change in the route, saying the march would first head towards Khyber and then proceed to Peshawar.

"We are playing a Test match; there are still many overs and players left. The change in route is part of the PTI's strategy," the CM said while addressing participants of the protest at University Chowk in Kohat on the third day of the march before departing for the next destination.

He also referred to the earlier change in the march's date from September 27 to October 4, saying the authorities had reacted strongly to the postponement and were now concerned about the duration of the protest.

Afridi said the march would eventually move towards Islamabad when the PTI decided to do so, declaring: "When we say we are going to Islamabad, no one will be able to stop us."

Afridi vowed to continue the PTI long march, saying all constitutional and legal avenues had been exhausted and the party was now compelled to take to the streets to seek justice for Imran Khan. He said the era of what he called "fake, imposed and mandate-stealing rulers" was nearing its end.

Thanking the people of Kohat for their enthusiasm and patriotism, he said PTI workers would not be intimidated by anyone. "My young people, your chief minister is not afraid of anyone, and the youth of my Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa are also not afraid of anyone," he said.

Afridi said the objective was to bring Imran Khan out of prison and make him prime minister again, claiming that the country would witness development and prosperity under his leadership.

He said Pakistan had enjoyed peace between 2018 and 2022, when, according to him, Imran Khan had not compromised the country's interests.

The chief minister said the seven-point demands of the long march had already been made public on social media and challenged anyone to identify even one demand that was unconstitutional or illegal.

Afridi said demands for Imran Khan's medical treatment, a meeting with him and his release in accordance with law were not unconstitutional. He questioned why courts were not hearing Imran's cases, claiming that if the cases were heard, the PTI founder would be released within an hour.

The chief minister alleged that Imran Khan was being kept in prison because he had refused to submit to powerful figures in Pakistan and abroad. He also alleged that restrictions had been placed on the former prime minister's name and image in the national media because of his popularity.

Afridi further expressed concern over reports about Imran Khan's health and alleged that his health was being "played with". He warned that the jail administration, prime minister and other relevant officials would be responsible if any harm came to the PTI founder.

He said courts, assemblies and state institutions operated with taxpayers' money and argued that people therefore had the right to demand justice. "If the courts do not provide justice, the people will seek justice on the streets," he said.

Afridi maintained that the PTI had exhausted available democratic, constitutional and legal channels before resorting to street protest.

He said since becoming chief minister, he had repeatedly approached the authorities and requested a meeting with Imran Khan. According to Afridi, he had also contacted the prime minister over the matter but was told that the request would be considered, after which no meeting was arranged.

He said the K-P Assembly subsequently passed a resolution seeking his meeting with Imran Khan, while he had also approached the chief justice of Pakistan without receiving a response.