PTI leadership, TTAP on board for September 27 long march to Islamabad: Sohail Afridi

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has said that PTI’s political leadership and its ally, Tehreek Tahaffuz-i-Ayeen Pakistan (TTAP), have agreed to hold a long march towards Islamabad on September 27.

Speaking on a private news channel, he said the decision had the backing of the party leadership across the country.

Responding to concerns raised by Aleema Khan over the date, Afridi described her as a “non-political individual,” saying she would accept the decision once the party explained the relevant facts and circumstances to her.

He also dismissed allegations that he had met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to finalize the date, calling the claim baseless and saying he was at KP House in Islamabad at the time.

The KP chief minister rejected the impression that there was a communication gap between PTI’s leadership and its workers. Referring to the “D-Chowk” slogans raised at a Peshawar rally, he said the party leadership was trying to resolve political issues through mutual understanding while dealing with institutions that, in his view, were restricting PTI’s political space.

Afridi warned that the youth across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the rest of Pakistan would turn out in large numbers on September 27. He said he could see strong enthusiasm among young people and suggested that their political energy would be difficult to contain if the march went ahead.

Commenting on the federal government, Afridi criticized Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s administration for what he described as economic inefficiency and poor governance. He maintained that PTI had no option but to protest because of its grievances, while emphasizing that the party was still attempting to resolve matters through dialogue.

Afridi further said he would follow the instructions of PTI founder Imran Khan if he asked him to change the date of the long march or create room for negotiations. He stated that even if Khan gave such directions during a meeting at Adiala jail, he would comply with them.