ISLAMABAD (MNN); The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leadership has decided to postpone its planned long march towards Islamabad from September 27 to October 4, according to a senior party leader. The march will now reportedly set off from Peshawar on October 4.
The party had been preparing for a nationwide protest and march to Islamabad to demand the release of PTI founder Imran Khan, who is incarcerated at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.
A senior PTI leader, speaking to journalists on condition of anonymity, said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi would formally announce the postponement. He said the party had considered allowing the federal government and law-enforcement agencies additional time to deal with the situation, noting that several roads and routes had already been closed ahead of the planned protest.
The leader said PTI believed the preparations for the September 27 protest had already placed significant pressure on the authorities, including through the closure of roads and deployment of security personnel.
Asked whether PTI would join the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) in its protest against the petroleum levy, the leader said the two matters were unrelated and maintained that PTI was capable of organising its march independently.
The development follows earlier statements from within PTI suggesting that the September 27 protest could be postponed if the government agreed to elections within six to eight months, released Imran Khan and other political prisoners, and initiated investigations into the May 9 and November 26 crackdowns. PTI spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram had previously rejected reports that such a proposal was formally under discussion.
Security preparations had been intensified in Rawalpindi Division and Islamabad ahead of the proposed September 27 mobilisation. Punjab had imposed restrictions on gatherings, while Section 144 remained in force in Islamabad. The federal government had also authorised Rangers deployment in Islamabad and several Punjab districts through October 5.
Tarar Accuses KP Government of Failing to Address Terrorism
Meanwhile, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, alleging that it had failed to take adequate measures to maintain law and order and was providing what he described as “facilitation” to terrorists.
Addressing a press conference, Tarar alleged that terrorist attacks had affected political parties across KP but claimed that the PTI-led provincial government had not taken sufficient action against militant groups. These were allegations made by the federal minister and were not independently established in the remarks.
Tarar also criticised KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi over the provincial government’s response to attacks and cross-border incidents. He alleged that the provincial administration had not publicly condemned or adequately responded to incidents involving attacks from Afghanistan.
The minister further accused the KP government of maintaining what he termed a “political terror-crime nexus” linked to illegal trade and mining, alleging that such activities were being used to finance militants.
Tarar cited government figures claiming that 2,456 terrorist attacks had occurred in KP during 2026, averaging around 10 incidents a day, while 472 personnel from the police, Army, Rangers and Frontier Corps had been killed and more than 1,500 people injured.
The federal minister said maintaining law and order was constitutionally the responsibility of the provincial government and argued that the loss of civilian and security personnel could not be justified.
Earlier this week, Tarar had also said the federal government had no plan to impose governor’s rule in KP and called for improved governance and political dialogue.