PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Friday said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) planned long march on Islamabad would go ahead despite roadblocks, containers and other hurdles.
Addressing a press conference at the KP Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Afridi questioned the presence of officials from other provinces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and alleged that personnel from one province were entering another province and clashing with provincial government employees.
“What are we supposed to understand from this? Has the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration lost confidence in its own police, and is the administration or police of another province now going to be deployed here?” he asked.
Afridi said the developments raised questions about the federal structure and accused the authorities of pursuing policies that, according to him, were weakening the federation.
He also alleged that nails had been placed on roads at the boundaries of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, describing the move as part of attempts to undermine the province.
“Pakistan will not break under any circumstances, and we will save Pakistan,” the chief minister said.
Referring to a video that purportedly showed officials from another province entering KP and clashing with provincial government personnel, Afridi questioned the presence of outside officials in the province.
He also alleged that the PTI parliamentary leader from KP had been barred from media coverage and that the provincial information minister had similarly been prevented from appearing in the media.
Afridi further claimed that journalists had been instructed not to cover the KP chief minister.
He thanked journalists for covering his activities and said he had attended the press conference primarily to express his gratitude to the media.
The chief minister said he had been informed that journalists would not be allowed to broadcast the press conference.
Afridi accused the authorities of using what he called “black tactics”, including firing and spreading rumours, and said such measures were pushing the country in the wrong direction.
He reiterated that the PTI long march would proceed regardless of roadblocks, containers or firing.
“This time, when we come out, we will settle this corrupt system and these incompetent rulers once and for all,” he said.
Afridi said a meeting of the PTI political committee was still under way and that he would brief the media again after consultations.
Responding to a question, the chief minister accused the authorities of creating panic through what he described as fake security threats.
He alleged that government operations at the provincial Secretariat had been suspended because of such threats.
“Do not stoop so low in politics that tomorrow you are unable to look people in the eye,” Afridi said, insisting that there had been no threat to the Secretariat.
He questioned the security arrangements, saying the Secretariat was located inside the cantonment and asking how a terrorist could reach the facility if the entire cantonment was under security control.
Afridi alleged that the authorities were primarily targeting PTI ministers in an attempt to create panic.
“If they think I will be frightened by these tactics or abandon my objective, they are mistaken,” he said.
He also referred to a reported threat to a mosque, saying he had personally visited the mosque and offered prayers despite the threat.
Afridi urged people not to panic, saying the government would face the situation with determination.
Meanwhile, according to PTI, a large caravan led by District President and MPA Arshad Khan Umarzai from PK-63, Charsadda, departed for Charsadda Interchange to welcome Afridi.
A meeting of the PTI political committee was also under way at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, with consultations focusing on the date and strategy of the planned long march.
Party sources said some leaders had proposed postponing the march, raising the possibility of a change in the protest schedule.
Earlier, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan and other opposition leaders met Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party Chairman and Tehreek Tahafuz Aain Pakistan (TTAP) head Mahmood Khan Achakzai to discuss preparations for the September 27 long march and the opposition’s broader political strategy.
According to a statement issued by Achakzai on social media, the meeting also reviewed the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, law and order, challenges to provincial autonomy and the country’s overall political situation.
The opposition parties agreed to strengthen coordination and consultation among themselves.
Earlier, Chief Minister Afridi visited the Civil Secretariat building, which had been evacuated following a reported security threat, and offered Friday prayers at the Secretariat mosque alongside Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah.
After prayers, Afridi received a detailed briefing at the Chief Secretary’s Office on the security situation in the province and issued instructions to the relevant authorities.
Speaking on the occasion, he said offering Friday prayers at the Civil Secretariat mosque sent a clear message against terrorism and added that terrorists could not intimidate the government or the people.
He said the provincial government would confront terrorism with full force and would make no compromise on protecting the lives and property of citizens.
