Sohail Afridi 'not happy' with PTI's long march preparations

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi expressed displeasure on Tuesday over what he described as a lack of interest among some Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members in preparations for the party’s planned long march to Islamabad, according to party sources. CM Afridi made the remarks while chairing a meeting of PTI’s parliamentary party at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, while some lawmakers did not attend the meeting in person and joined through Zoom. Addressing participants, Afridi criticised what he viewed as insufficient commitment to preparations for the march. “We also have Mir Jafars and Mir Sadiqs within our ranks,” Afridi said. According to the sources, the chief minister reiterated that PTI would depart from Peshawar for Islamabad on October 4, saying that “We are not going to conquer Islamabad, and the federal government is blocking our way.”  Referring to allegations that protesters could carry sticks or slingshots, Afridi said: “We will go with two hands and two feet.” The PTI had earlier postponed its planned long march to Islamabad from September 27 to October 4, with CM Afridi announcing the revised date on September 25. CM Afridi had said the decision to defer the march was part of the party’s “political strategy” and that negotiations with the federal government would continue even after the mobilisation. Later, CM Afridi said in a post on X, “You should prepare; I am ready.” میری تیاری مکمل ہے۔ کیا آپ تیار ہیں؟ انشاءاللہ 4 اکتوبر۔ pic.twitter.com/Y7wFhAENsM — Sohail Afridi (@SohailAfridiISF) September 29, 2026 Read: Kundi urges KP govt to abandon long march, says ground reality ‘not in favour’ Meanwhile, PTI K-P President Junaid Akbar directed lawmakers and party leaders currently outside the country to return to Pakistan. Akbar said MPAs, MNAs, and party leaders who were not in Pakistan on October 4 would have no connection with PTI and told them they could form another party if they wished. Background The PTI had initially announced its long march to Islamabad for September 27, with the party saying it had exhausted other constitutional and legal avenues and was mobilising supporters across the country. As the date approached, the Islamabad High Court directed federal and provincial authorities to prevent the use of state resources for the protest and ordered that roads could not be blocked by political parties or public office holders. The federal government subsequently stepped up security preparations and warned the PTI against disrupting traffic and economic activity. The issue of governor’s rule in K-P also became a major point of contention. On September 21, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the government was consulting the Law Ministry on legal options for the province, including Governor’s Rule, if the PTI proceeded with the march. Two days later, however, Information Minister Atta Tarar ruled out any plan to impose Governor’s Rule, saying the federal government had no intention of removing the PTI administration. The federal government has repeatedly urged PTI not to proceed with its planned march, warning that Islamabad could not be shut down and that any disruption to law and order would not be allowed. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry called for dialogue and said a route that could be opened through talks could not be opened through a march. K-P Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also urged the provincial government to abandon the protest, saying the “ground reality” was not in its favour.