Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has reaffirmed plans for its October 4 march towards Islamabad. However, the party is considering Swabi as a possible staging point for the protest.
The PTI’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa parliamentary group discussed staying in Swabi for several days. The party would then decide whether and when to proceed towards Islamabad.
The decision came during a parliamentary party meeting chaired by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Tuesday. Provincial and national lawmakers attended the meeting alongside ministers, advisers and other party leaders.
The meeting was held through Zoom as the party reviewed preparations for the planned mobilisation. According to PTI sources, Afridi directed lawmakers and leaders to prepare for the October 4 march.
PTI Plans Swabi Stay Before Islamabad March
According to party sources, the PTI discussed reaching Swabi on October 4 before deciding its next move.
Participants considered establishing a tent city in Swabi for the protesters. Consultations would then take place there regarding the timing of any movement towards Islamabad.
The proposed arrangement could make Swabi a central staging point for the latest PTI mobilisation. The party’s earlier plan involved a convoy travelling from Peshawar towards the federal capital.
Supporters from other parts of Pakistan were also expected to join the planned march. However, the latest strategy places greater emphasis on Swabi before any further movement.
Afridi had previously said PTI supporters would observe Imran Khan’s birthday in Swabi on October 5.
The proposed Swabi stay therefore coincides with the party’s planned birthday observance. PTI has been preparing for the mobilisation while political tensions continue between the federal and KP governments.
PTI Rejects Calls to Postpone March
The decision to proceed with the October 4 mobilisation came despite calls within PTI for another postponement.
PTI leader and former provincial information minister Shaukat Yousafzai had urged the leadership to reconsider the march. He cited security concerns and the prevailing political situation in his letter.
Yousafzai also called for the safety of PTI workers to remain a priority. In addition, he raised concerns about possible federal action against the KP government.
His concerns included the possibility of emergency measures amid growing tensions between the federal and provincial administrations.
However, Afridi expressed displeasure over Yousafzai’s call to postpone the march. According to sources, the chief minister questioned why party workers were being discouraged.
He also directed that supporters should not receive messages suggesting disappointment or uncertainty about the mobilisation.
KP Information Minister Shafi Jan subsequently said the march would proceed on the announced date. He described Yousafzai’s letter as his personal opinion.
Jan also said preparations for the mobilisation were continuing.
Why Was the March Date Changed?
The October 4 plan follows PTI’s decision to postpone its earlier September 27 mobilisation.
The party announced the postponement last Friday, shifting the planned march to October 4. Afridi had said the decision came from PTI’s political committee.
According to the chief minister, the postponement formed part of the party’s political strategy.
The original plan involved a convoy departing from Peshawar and travelling towards Islamabad. Supporters from other areas were expected to join the procession along the route.
Now, the party has reaffirmed October 4 while considering a different approach for the mobilisation. Swabi could consequently become an important point before any movement towards Islamabad.
Security Concerns Surround October 4 Mobilisation
The planned march is taking place amid heightened security concerns across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The security situation has become part of the wider disagreement between the federal and KP governments. PTI leaders have continued to discuss the implications of holding a major mobilisation under these circumstances.
Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said the government had not closed the door to dialogue with PTI.
However, he stressed that any negotiations should be serious. Tarar also said the release of prisoners was a matter for the courts rather than the government.
Meanwhile, KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has opposed the planned mobilisation.
Kundi said the province could not afford another major political gathering amid the existing security situation. He has also indicated that constitutional options could be considered if law and order deteriorates.
PTI Offers Talks With Federal Government
Despite the continuing dispute, PTI Senator Ali Zafar has offered talks with the federal government.
Zafar said PTI would respond positively if the government took a step towards negotiations. His remarks came as both sides continued to disagree over the planned mobilisation.
The possibility of dialogue therefore remains part of the broader political situation surrounding the October 4 march.
At the same time, PTI continues to demand the release of its founder, Imran Khan. Khan has remained incarcerated at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail since 2023.
The planned march is linked to the party’s broader campaign seeking his release.
Federal and KP Governments Discuss Constitutional Options
The disagreement has also extended to possible constitutional measures involving the KP government.
According to sources, Kundi and Federal Minister Amir Muqam discussed the law and order situation in KP during a meeting.
The meeting reportedly included discussions about possible political and constitutional options. These included governor’s rule and an in-house change.
However, no final decision was announced regarding these options.
The issue has remained connected to the wider tensions between the federal and provincial governments. Those tensions have intensified alongside the dispute over PTI’s planned mobilisation.
Road Restrictions Follow Earlier PTI Protest Plans
The latest mobilisation also follows extensive restrictions imposed before PTI’s original September 27 protest.
The government had earlier introduced road closures and other restrictions ahead of the planned demonstration. Several major routes connecting Peshawar and Islamabad were later reopened after PTI postponed the protest.
However, some restrictions remained in place following the postponement.
With PTI now reaffirming October 4 as the mobilisation date, the security situation remains a significant factor. The proposed stay in Swabi could provide the party with time for further consultations.
PTI lawmakers and leaders will consider the next phase of the protest while staying in Swabi, according to the plan discussed.
The party’s latest strategy therefore places Swabi at the centre of its October 4 mobilisation. Whether the convoy subsequently moves towards Islamabad will be decided during consultations there.
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