PTI long march route changed; Swabi destination set

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March to move through Peshawar, Charsadda, Mardan before reaching Swabi on Oct 11

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has finalized the latest schedule for the next phase of the PTI long march, with the convoy set to remain in Peshawar on October 8 before moving through Charsadda and Mardan and reaching Swabi on October 11.

The date for the Swabi leg has been changed again as the PTI leadership continues its methodical march through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Afridi is expected to remain among party workers and supporters in different districts until October 11 and lead the next phase of the protest.

Under the latest programme, Afridi will address gatherings at different locations in Peshawar today, October 8, before spending the night in the city.

The march participants will travel to Charsadda on October 9, where they will stay overnight. The convoy will then move towards Mardan on October 10 and spend the night there.

On October 11, all convoys participating in the long march will proceed towards Swabi and stay there for the night. It is in Swabi that Afridi will announce the future course of action, according to the announced programme.

The march has already entered Peshawar from Khyber district, with the procession scheduled to move through different parts of the city before proceeding towards Charsadda.

PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said the long march’s arrival in Islamabad remains a distant prospect, signalling that the party does not intend to rush the movement.

“We are playing a Test match, not a T20 game,” Raja said, describing the march as a methodical process. He said PTI was in no hurry and announced plans to establish a “city of democracy” in Swabi.

Raja also said negotiations with the government remained possible if the government demonstrated sincerity. However, he clarified that no formal contact regarding negotiations had taken place, although informal discussions do occur.

Raja said the PTI would not compromise on the issue of medical treatment for party founder Imran Khan or meetings with him.

The statement comes as access to Imran Khan and his medical care have remained among the issues at the centre of the political dispute between PTI and the government.

The broader PTI long march began on October 4 after negotiations between the government and PTI failed to resolve their differences. The march is being led by KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and has been moving through the province in stages.

PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Secretary General Ali Asghar has directed all district organisations, elected representatives and party workers to ensure an organised reception for the march. He also instructed party structures to undertake effective public outreach as the convoy moves through different districts of the province.

The latest route reflects repeated changes to the march’s schedule. Earlier plans had envisaged Khairabad as a point for announcing the next phase, but the PTI leadership subsequently shifted the focus to Swabi.

The PTI leadership now plans to use the Swabi gathering to determine the next stage of the movement, while keeping open the possibility of negotiations if, according to Raja, the government demonstrates seriousness.

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