PTI March Day 7: Afridi Rejects Governor's Rule Threat at Mardan Rally, Strategy Reveal Set for Swabi on Oct 13

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf long march entered its seventh day on Sunday with Chief Minister Sohail Afridi addressing supporters in Mardan, where he rejected any federal move to impose governor's rule or an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Afridi told the gathering at Shahbaz Garhi in Mardan that he would not accept what he described as an illegal move by the federal government. He warned that such a decision would change the march's direction, saying the protesters could head towards Peshawar instead of Swabi before moving towards D-Chowk in Islamabad.

Advertisement

The chief minister announced that he would reveal the march's future strategy in Swabi on October 13. The convoy stays in Mardan today; the earlier plan of moving to Swabi on October 11 no longer stands.

The address came as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi warned on a private television channel that he would order Afridi's arrest if PTI workers moved towards the Governor House. Kundi ruled out further negotiations with PTI and said strict action would follow any attempt to storm the Governor House.

Kundi said options including governor's rule, an emergency, or both had been discussed, with a final decision expected at a cabinet meeting today. The federal government is reportedly considering the measures amid disagreements with the provincial government over counterterrorism policy.

Calling on the public to join the protest for the release of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan, Afridi said threats and the use of force would not discourage Pakhtuns or PTI supporters, and that arrests would not weaken the party's resolve. PTI MNA Muhammad Atif Khan also addressed the gathering, saying Afridi's strategy had put the federal government in a difficult position.

The march began on October 4 after talks between the federal and provincial governments failed to resolve their differences. Since its launch, the route and schedule have changed several times, and the final destination remains uncertain, with the protest so far remaining within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where PTI is in power.

Sources: pakhtundigital.com; dailymetrotime.com.