PTI long march moves towards Kohat after overnight stay in Karak

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march, launched from southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has completed its first leg and is moving towards the next stage of its planned route, Aaj News reported on Monday.

The march began from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat on Sunday evening and covered around 80 kilometres before reaching Karak late at night, where participants spent the night.

Participants from Bannu, North Waziristan, South Waziristan, Lakki Marwat, Tank and other adjoining districts joined the march during its initial phase. Participants from Dera Ismail Khan also joined individually, while caravans travelling from Balochistan via Zhob joined the march at Yarik after crossing roadblocks.

However, a caravan led by former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur could not reach the march on time.

A large camp was set up at Jail Chowk in Karak, where protesters remained overnight.

Local police officials said the march, led by KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, was scheduled to leave Karak at noon, although the final departure time remained uncertain.

Mobile phone and mobile internet services have been completely suspended in Karak and surrounding areas as part of security and administrative measures.

KP Information Minister Shafi Jan said in a post on X that the caravan would spend Monday night at Lachi Ground near Kohat.

According to the PTI schedule, participants from Kohat, Hangu, Kurram and Orakzai will join the caravan on October 6, after which the march will proceed towards Peshawar and spend the night at Matni, around 30 kilometres from the city.

Chief Minister Sohail Afridi shared a detailed roadmap for the march on X on Sunday, saying participants from Khyber district and different areas of Peshawar would welcome the caravan at the Kohat Road Bridge and motorway toll plaza at Budhber on October 7. The caravan will then spend the night at Charsadda Interchange.

On October 8, participants from Charsadda and Mohmand will join the march, while caravans from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will converge at Khairabad. After an overnight stay, the party will announce its next course of action in light of the prevailing government and administrative situation.

Meanwhile, a large number of containers have been placed along roads in Attock and Taxila to prevent the PTI march from moving forward. Bags filled with soil and stones have also been gathered to block roads, while security arrangements have been tightened.

On the other hand, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Engineer Amir Muqam on Monday said the long march planned by the PTI and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government would not be allowed to enter Punjab or Islamabad.

Addressing a press conference at the Kashmir Council alongside MNA Samar Haroon Bilour and Senator Zahid Khan, he urged the people of KP not to become “pawns” in what he termed the PTI’s political agenda.

Muqam questioned the purpose of the long march, saying it was being organised for political and personal gains rather than the welfare of the people of KP.