PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday launched the PTI’s long march towards Islamabad from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat, saying the party would “not accept” any policy that was against the interests of the people of the province and Pashtuns.
Afridi reached Lakki Marwat by helicopter to lead the PTI’s long march, which is being held to demand the release of jailed party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan. The march was launched from Gandi Chowk on the Peshawar-Karachi Indus Highway.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi has said that the provincial government is a political entity that believes in political engagement and dialogue, but will not accept any policy that causes harm to the people of his province.
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Addressing participants of a ‘long march’ at Gandi Chowk, Lakki Marwat, he said the negotiating committee that travelled to Islamabad the previous day had gone there to reduce political tensions. However, he said, a mindset that makes decisions behind closed doors was seeking to impose another decision on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including a policy under which it would be given a free hand to do as it pleased in the province. “We will not accept any policy that causes harm to the Pashtun people,” he said.
He made it clear that neither governor’s rule nor an emergency would be accepted in the KP, saying that the province would be governed according to the public mandate.
Referring to the security situation, Afridi said those advocating military operations and drone strikes were also responsible for the policy of resettling terrorists in the KP. “They lit this fire, we will put it out.”
He said that for the past 22 years, policies implemented in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had failed to eliminate terrorism and had instead contributed to its increase. He invited the federal government to review these policies and give the provincial government’s policy an opportunity to deliver. “If our policy is implemented, peace can be restored within 100 days,” he said.
He alleged that the priority of those pursuing the current approach was not restoration of peace but the elimination of the PTI, adding that they would not succeed in doing so.
He said as the chief minister and as a representative of the Pashtun people, he had categorically rejected military operations and drone strikes. He said decisions concerning the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa must be made in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Decisions taken behind closed doors, he said, had historically come at the cost of Pashtun lives. Future decisions must be made in accordance with the aspirations of the people, he urged.
Afridi said the southern districts had repeatedly borne the burden of terrorism, military operations and policies that adversely affected civilian populations. He said drone strikes also resulted in collateral damage, with local communities bearing the consequences.
He called on the people to come forward, saying that Pakistan’s future must be shaped by its people and its youth. He said the people must demonstrate to the world that the ultimate authority in Pakistan rests with its citizens, rather than those who make decisions behind closed doors and impose them on the public.
Referring to the ‘long march’, he said the struggle had begun and that public participation would continue to grow.
He said the caravan would proceed towards Karak, where a major public gathering would take place the following day. He said a new plan would be announced each day and that by the time the caravan reached Swabi, the movement would have spread to every part of Pakistan, with major intersections becoming centres of public gatherings. He said the struggle would continue until “real freedom” is achieved.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026