Afridi Vows October 4 March Will Be Peaceful, Rules Out May 9 Repeat
Afridi Vows October 4 March Will Be Peaceful, Rules Out May 9 Repeat
PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has vowed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s October 4 march will remain peaceful, ruling out a repeat of the violence seen on May 9, 2023.
Addressing party workers at a fundraising event at the PTI secretariat in Peshawar on Saturday, Afridi said the long march would begin from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat on October 4 and that he would personally lead the convoy toward the federal capital.
The chief minister insisted the march would go ahead despite the ongoing talks between the government and the opposition. He urged supporters, particularly those from the southern districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, to join in large numbers and to come with full preparations.
October 4 march: the route and schedule
Under the plan announced by the party, the march’s first stop will be Karak, followed by Kohat on October 5. The convoy is scheduled to reach Matni, near Peshawar, on the night of October 6, and to depart from Peshawar on the morning of October 7.
Afridi called on workers to keep the protest peaceful and to avoid any disorder. Caravans from Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, South Waziristan and Bannu are expected to converge in Lakki Marwat before joining the main procession.
The march is the PTI’s latest bid to press its demands, which include the release of the party’s founder, former prime minister Imran Khan, and what the party describes as the restoration of constitutional supremacy.
Talks continue at Parliament House
The chief minister’s remarks came as the government and the PTI prepared for a second round of negotiations at 2pm on Saturday at Parliament House. The first round, held on Friday in National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s chamber, was described by both sides as constructive.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said the meeting was held in a “good atmosphere” and that the party had presented its demands. A key PTI demand is permission for party leaders to meet Imran Khan, who is incarcerated at Adiala jail, along with implementation of a Supreme Court order concerning his transfer to a hospital.
The government, meanwhile, has asked the PTI to postpone or call off the march, assuring the opposition that the court order concerning Imran Khan would be implemented. Gohar said the PTI was entering the negotiations in good faith and that the government’s approach would determine the party’s next course of action.
Why the May 9 reference matters
The reference to May 9 carries weight in Pakistani politics. On May 9, 2023, violent protests erupted across the country after Imran Khan’s arrest, with attacks on military installations and public property. Scores of PTI workers and leaders were later prosecuted over the unrest.
By explicitly ruling out a repeat, Afridi was signalling that the coming march would stay within peaceful bounds, a message aimed as much at the authorities and the courts as at his own workers.
Frequently asked questions
When and where does the October 4 march begin?
The march begins at 1pm on October 4 from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, with Chief Minister Sohail Afridi personally leading the convoy.
What route will the march take?
The convoy’s first stop will be Karak, followed by Kohat on October 5. It is scheduled to reach Matni, near Peshawar, on the night of October 6 and to depart from Peshawar on the morning of October 7.
What are the PTI’s demands in the talks with the government?
The PTI wants permission for its leaders to meet Imran Khan at Adiala jail and implementation of a Supreme Court order on his transfer to a hospital. The government has asked the party to postpone or call off the march while assuring that the court order will be implemented.
