The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march towards Islamabad entered its fourth day on Wednesday as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi summoned a provincial cabinet meeting to discuss the political and administrative situation in the province.
The PTI convoy, led by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, continued its journey after reaching Mattani on the outskirts of Peshawar late Tuesday. The convoy had travelled from Kohat before the party changed its planned route. Afridi has described the protest as a “Test match”, indicating that the movement could take place in several stages.
The march began from Lakki Marwat on October 4 after negotiations between the federal government and PTI failed to resolve key differences. The talks reportedly remained deadlocked over the federal government’s demand for greater cooperation from the KP government on counterterrorism measures, while PTI has sought a mutually agreed strategy for addressing security challenges in the province.
PTI has said the convoy is expected to reach Khairabad, near the Punjab border, on October 8. Sohail Afridi is expected to announce the next phase of the protest there. Meanwhile, the KP cabinet meeting is expected to discuss matters related to the provincial government’s political and administrative affairs, with its detailed agenda expected to be issued.
Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has called on the government not to prevent PTI from holding a peaceful protest in Islamabad. He said peaceful demonstrations and long marches were part of democratic politics and called for political dialogue and wider consultations.
Fazlur Rehman also suggested that an All-Parties Conference could be considered to develop a joint strategy for addressing the country’s political challenges. He stressed that political parties should work within the Constitution and seek political solutions through dialogue.
PTI March Enters Fourth Day as KP Cabinet Meeting Called by Sohail Afridi
