PTI Reaffirms September 27 Islamabad March, Directs Workers to Avoid Weapons

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday reaffirmed that it would proceed with its September 27 long march to Islamabad, while directing workers not to carry sticks, slingshots or weapons.

PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Secretary Shaukat Yousafzai said the party had finalised its strategy and would hold the march as planned.

“We will go to Islamabad — wherever we are stopped, we will sit and protest there,” he said, adding that workers had been instructed to remain peaceful.

Yousafzai warned that anyone found carrying sticks, slingshots or weapons would have no connection with the party.

The PTI is planning the march to demand the release of its incarcerated founder Imran Khan and what the party describes as the restoration of constitutional supremacy.

No Change in March Plan

PTI central spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram confirmed that an online meeting was held to discuss preparations and the strategy for the September 27 protest.

He said no participant suggested postponing the march.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan also said the party’s programme had already been announced and would not change.

Gohar criticised the use of net launchers against political protesters and called for dialogue to address their grievances.

He also reaffirmed Imran Khan’s confidence in KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, saying Afridi would remain chief minister with the support of party members.

Gohar separately met Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas to discuss preparations and strategy for the long march.

Afridi Says PTI Will Protest

Addressing a law and order meeting in Peshawar, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said KP police and the public had fought terrorism for 22 years.

He said their sacrifices had helped maintain peace in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other areas between 2018 and 2022.

Afridi said his government had provided additional resources to the police. He claimed it allocated Rs35 billion beyond the annual budget last year and increased the police budget from Rs80 billion to Rs190 billion this year.

He also said modern armoured personnel carriers prepared for Islamabad had been handed over, while KP police had not received modern APCs themselves.

Afridi maintained that he had never issued an unlawful or politically motivated order to a police officer. He also denied ordering personal revenge or the registration of false FIRs.

The chief minister described the September 27 event as a peaceful protest rather than an armed struggle or attack.

He warned that the provincial government would take its own measures if federal institutions used police for political purposes.

“As long as the right to assembly exists in the Constitution, we will protest,” Afridi said.

The PTI’s position comes amid heightened tensions between the federal government and the party ahead of the planned march. The Islamabad High Court has also been hearing challenges related to the planned protests and the movement of protesters into the capital.