CM Sohail Afridi reaches Lakki Marwat to lead PTI long march

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday reached Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat by helicopter to lead the first phase of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) long march, hours after government-opposition talks aimed at averting the protest ended in deadlock.

Afridi arrived at a special helipad prepared near Maidadkhel and later reached the container set up for the march, where party leaders and workers gathered for the mobilisation.

The march is being held to demand the release of PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, who is incarcerated in Adiala jail.

The first phase is scheduled to move through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the coming days before supporters from across the province converge at Khairabad on October 8, when the party is expected to announce its next strategy.

The development came after two days of negotiations between the government and the opposition failed to produce an agreement early Sunday, with the talks continuing until around 2:30am.

Following the collapse of the talks, the PTI announced that it would proceed with the march, while the federal government said protesters would not be allowed to enter Islamabad.

KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi criticised Afridi for travelling to Lakki Marwat in an official helicopter to lead the march.

In a post on X, Kundi said Afridi’s use of a government helicopter for the political activity despite what he described as clear Islamabad High Court orders amounted to contempt of court and a violation of judicial directions.

“When the chief minister himself will not comply with court orders and will use state resources for political activities, what expectation can there be from his workers to obey the law?” Kundi said.