PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD (MNN); A convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi entered Peshawar on Thursday evening as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) continued its long march for the fifth consecutive day, demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan.
The march, which began in Lakki Marwat on October 4, has undergone several changes in its route and final destination. Although PTI initially announced plans to march towards Islamabad, the party has yet to clarify its ultimate destination, with Afridi indicating that he would announce the next course of action in Swabi.
According to PTI’s official X account, the convoy reached Hayatabad Toll Plaza shortly after 6pm, where hundreds of supporters gathered to welcome the chief minister.
Addressing the participants, Afridi urged them to remain committed to the “struggle for true freedom”, saying the hardships faced during the march were insignificant compared with the suffering Imran Khan was enduring in prison.
He declared that PTI supporters would not hesitate to sacrifice their lives for the jailed party founder. Afridi said the next plan would be disclosed as the caravan proceeded through Peshawar, while promising to reveal a major strategic move in Swabi.
The convoy travelled from Lakki Marwat to Kohat, camped overnight in Mattani on the outskirts of Peshawar on October 6, and reached Khyber on October 7 before moving towards the provincial capital.
The march was initially scheduled to reach Khairabad, near Attock, on Thursday. However, Afridi subsequently announced that the caravan would proceed to Swabi, where he would unveil the party’s future strategy.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, speaking to the media in Charsadda, said the party had never supported terrorism but believed Pakistan’s counterterrorism policy needed to be reviewed in light of changing circumstances.
Gohar visited the residences of KP Public Health Engineering Minister Fazal Shakoor and MNA Fazal Mohammad Khan, whom PTI alleges were abducted by unidentified individuals. He expressed concern over their alleged disappearance and demanded their immediate and safe recovery.
He said 18 days had passed since the alleged abduction of Fazal Shakoor, while his family remained unaware of his whereabouts. Gohar urged the authorities to take immediate action and ensure both men were reunited with their families.
The PTI chairman also rejected the imposition of governor’s rule or an emergency in KP, arguing that political disputes should be resolved through constitutional and democratic means. He called on decision-makers to respect the public mandate and elected governments.
On counterterrorism, Gohar said terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan or Sindh was a threat to Pakistan as a whole. He called for implementing the National Action Plan through a unified national policy rather than politicising the issue.
He defended Chief Minister Afridi against allegations that PTI supported terrorism and said the party remained willing to engage in meaningful dialogue with political opponents. He also appreciated JUI-F, ANP and Jamaat-i-Islami for opposing the imposition of governor’s rule.
Gohar said the long march would continue according to the announced programme, with gatherings planned in Mardan on October 10 and Swabi on October 11. The party leadership would decide its subsequent course of action.
Mobile services disrupted
Mobile and cellular internet services were reportedly suspended in several areas of Peshawar from Wednesday night ahead of the convoy’s arrival.
A Pakistan Telecommunication Authority official confirmed that the temporary suspension had been ordered on the directives of higher authorities as a security precaution during the march.
The disruption affected some parents who were unaware that several private schools had closed on Thursday. Government schools, colleges and universities remained open.
The Private Schools Regulatory Authority said it had not ordered school closures and directed private educational institutions to continue regular academic activities until formal instructions were issued. It warned that disciplinary action could be taken against schools that failed to comply.
High Court seeks Afridi’s reply in contempt case
Separately, the Peshawar High Court sought a response from Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to a contempt petition alleging that he violated a previous court ruling by using an official helicopter to participate in the PTI long march.
A bench comprising Chief Justice SM Attique Shah and Justice Ijaz Khan issued notice to Afridi on a petition filed by PML-N MPA Zahir Khan.
The petitioner maintained that the chief minister’s use of a provincial government helicopter to travel from Peshawar to Lakki Marwat on October 4 violated an October 23, 2025, judgment prohibiting the use of official vehicles, machinery and manpower for political activities, rallies and long marches.
The petition argued that the flight also involved public resources, including the helicopter’s crew, fuel, technical staff and security arrangements. It asked the court to initiate contempt proceedings and summon details of the flight’s authorisation, log and expenditure.
The court issued notice to the chief minister and adjourned the hearing.
