Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday reiterated claims that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s planned long march on Sept. 27 will “alter” the course of Pakistan’s future.
Addressing a Grand Consultative Conference convened by the party to review preparations for the long march on Islamabad, he directed party lawmakers and office-bearers to mobilize in their respective constituencies and make comprehensive preparations for the march.
Welcoming the participants, he emphasized that the date for the long march was decided after careful consideration of all relevant aspects and priorities. “The proposals emerging from the conference would be presented before the Tehreek Tahafuz-e-Ayeen Pakistan, after which a final strategy for the march would be announced in consultation with the alliance,” he said, referring to the opposition alliance led by Mehmood Achakzai.
Afridi urged all participants to remain united and maintain an unwavering focus on their objective, adding that “certain elements” were attempting to undermine collective decisions because they wanted Imran Khan to remain in jail, and should be ignored. “Remain fully focused on the Sept. 27 call,” he said.
The chief minister described social media as one of the party’s greatest strengths, claiming the ongoing street movement had demonstrated the public was responding positively to the Sept. 27 call. He maintained public anger had intensified over the “violation” of court orders regarding Khan’s treatment at Shifa International Hospital and reiterated that he expected 4 million people to take to the streets.
However, he said, this could only be achieved through unity within the party. “If we remain united and keep our focus on our goal, we will certainly succeed,” he said. “I am a soldier of Imran Khan, and following in his footsteps, we will enter the field on Sept. 27 with a strategy for victory,” he said.
During his address, Afridi announced the establishment of a monitoring committee and directed all parliamentarians to launch the street movement in their respective constituencies. “The entire country is monitoring your activities and bearing witness to them. Begin the movement today and move forward with full preparation,” he said, saying no one should be afraid of arrests. “If Yasmeen Rashid can be arrested, why should we be afraid of being arrested?” he questioned, claiming if the leadership was incarcerated the public would come out of its own accord.
He also urged the legislators and office-bearers to focus their efforts on the youth and students, claiming no one could “stop the revolution” if they took to the streets.
Nationwide plan
Reportedly, the PTI has chalked out a plan for the Sept. 27 long march comprising the main march and satellite demonstrations aimed at locking down major thoroughfares nationwide.
According to this proposed plan, the main march would proceed from KP and include crowds from north Punjab. Protesters in central and western Punjab have been directed to move toward Lahore, while residents of south Punjab have been asked to coordinate with KP and block remaining routes.
In Sindh, the PTI hopes to block key highways, with office-bearers in Hyderabad and Karachi directed to coordinate a shutdown. Balochistan’s plan includes blocking Quetta and major national highways.