CM Afridi says PTI to unveil ‘final plan’ in Swabi as long march enters 6th day, heads to Charsadda

Salman Akram Raja rules out compromise, predicts a large Punjab turnout for the long march

PESHAWAR/ LAHORE:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Khan Afridi said on Friday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf would announce its "final plan" in Swabi, which would leave its opponents "sleepless" as the party's long march entered its sixth day while it headed towards Charsadda.

Addressing party workers at Bakshi Bridge in Peshawar, CM Afridi said the next course of action would be announced in Charsadda before the march proceeded to Mardan and then Swabi.

He urged workers to maintain their enthusiasm and commitment, saying there had been no decline in public participation as he travelled from one end of Peshawar to the other.

“I would like to thank the people of Peshawar from the bottom of my heart. I have travelled from one end of Peshawar to the other, but God willing, there has been no decline in the public’s enthusiasm, passion or participation,” he said.

Read: Bilawal urges PTI to return to political engagement, says governor's rule in K-P would be 'atomic bomb'

The chief minister said the party had moved beyond the equivalent of a Test match and was ready for shorter formats, using cricketing terminology to describe the next phase of its campaign.

“We have played a Test match; now we have to play One-Day, T20 and T10,” he said, adding that the party was even prepared to play “Super Sixes” if workers demanded it.

According to PTI’s social media handle, the march is expected to reach Charsadda today, where the chief minister will address various gatherings and stay for the night. It also said that CM Afridi is accompanied by the party’s provincial president, parliamentary leadership, and other party leaders.

بالقسط لانگ مارچ — چھٹا دن!

وزیراعلیٰ خیبر پختونخوا محمد سہیل خان آفریدی کی قیادت میں بالقسط لانگ مارچ کے چھٹے دن کا آغاز پشاور سے ہو گیا ہے۔ وزیراعلیٰ کے ہمراہ صوبائی صدر، پارلیمانی قیادت اور پارٹی رہنما کنٹینر پر موجود ہیں۔

لانگ مارچ کا قافلہ آج چارسدہ پہنچے گا، جہاں قیام کے… pic.twitter.com/Bu1u4a0v4x

— PTI (@PTIofficial) October 9, 2026

PTI’s Salman Akram Raja rules out compromise, predicts large Punjab turnout for long march

Separately, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the party would not enter into any agreement that compromised its principles, vowing that Punjab would participate in the planned long march with a large number of caravans.

Speaking to the media at the Lahore High Court, Raja said the lives of ordinary citizens were paramount for the party, and it would not take part in any action that causes bloodshed of innocent people.

“We are prepared to endure every hardship, but we will not abandon our principles,” he vowed.

Read more: LHC seeks report on facilities provided to Imran’s sisters in jail

Raja outlined that he was discharging multiple responsibilities as the party’s secretary general and was also looking after the cases of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi.

Commenting on the situation in K-P, Raja claimed that the provincial government had ceased to function and allegedly even a deputy commissioner was refusing to comply with orders.

He condemned what he described as a crackdown on PTI workers in Peshawar the previous day, claiming that several party workers had been abducted.

“We will endure this brutality because we stand for the truth,” he said, remarking that fascism had taken over the country and urging those with authority to “exercise restraint and reconsider their actions”.

How did it all start?

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced its long march towards Islamabad to press for the release of party founder Imran Khan, accelerate hearings in cases against him and his wife Bushra Bibi, address concerns over his medical treatment and seek an end to restrictions on meetings with him.

The party initially planned to launch the march on September 27, but on September 26 CM Afridi rescheduled the protest to take place on October 4, amid extensive security and traffic restrictions and continuing efforts to negotiate with the federal government. He said the postponement was a unanimous decision of the party’s political committee.

On October 4, the long march began from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat under CM Afridi’s leadership, with participants from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat joining the procession.

According to the announced schedule, the convoy was to travel through Karak and Kohat before reaching Peshawar, with additional participants joining along the route.

The protest unfolded amid heightened political tensions and a breakdown in negotiations between the government and opposition.

A number of government officials, including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, accused the K-P government of foiling negotiations, saying the two sides had made substantial progress before reaching an impasse over terrorism-related issues. The PTI, meanwhile, maintained that its demands and concerns required a political, not an armed response.

As the convoy progressed through the province, Afridi called for constitutional supremacy, the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights.

PTI leaders pledged that the long march would remain peaceful and continue until the party’s demands were addressed. According to the schedule reported by The Express Tribune, the march was due to reach Charsadda on October 9, Mardan on October 10 and Swabi on October 11, with the party expected to decide its next steps after reaching Swabi.