Afridi-led convoy enters Peshawar as PTI long march continues for fifth day
The PTI long march led by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi entered Peshawar on Thursday, its fifth day on the road to Islamabad, as authorities shut mobile services in parts of the city and the Peshawar High Court sought the chief minister’s reply to a contempt plea over his use of a government helicopter for the march.
The convoy’s arrival in the provincial capital marks the furthest point yet for a march that began in Lakki Marwat on October 4, after three rounds of negotiations between the government and the opposition collapsed on Sunday.
Mobile services down in parts of Peshawar
As the convoy approached, mobile phone services went non-functional in parts of Peshawar. A PTA official said the suspension was a security precaution linked to the march’s arrival, a measure the authorities have used during previous large political gatherings in the city.
The blackout added to the disruption in a city already bracing for a large rally. PTI supporters lined the convoy’s route into Peshawar, waving party flags as the procession of vehicles moved through the city.
Court questions use of government helicopter
Separately, the Peshawar High Court sought CM Afridi’s reply to a contempt plea challenging his use of a government helicopter for the long march. The petition argues that a state aircraft was used for a party political activity, and the court has asked the chief minister to respond.
The helicopter question has followed Afridi since the march began. The provincial government has not publicly detailed how the aircraft was used during the five-day procession, and the court’s notice now forces the issue into the open.
PTI long march: what happens next
The march’s stated destination is Islamabad, but its immediate route runs through the settled districts of K-P. Party chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, speaking in Charsadda, said the party still wanted a “middle way” through dialogue even as the convoy moved, and the procession is expected to head on via Mardan and Swabi.
Afridi had earlier said the party would decide its next move once the convoy reached Khairabad, a town on the edge of Punjab that has served as the traditional staging point for marches on the capital. That decision point has now effectively arrived with the convoy in Peshawar.
The timing overlaps with a sharp political exchange in Karachi, where Sindh minister Sharjeel Memon accused Afridi of sabotaging the government’s talks with PTI, and with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s renewed offer of dialogue if PTI ends the march and its sit-ins. The government has given no sign of yielding to pressure from the street, and the march has given no sign of turning back.
Five days in, the long march has become a test of endurance for both sides: the opposition’s ability to keep thousands of supporters moving, and the government’s ability to manage the security and political fallout in the capital’s backyard.
FAQ
Where is the PTI long march now?
The Afridi-led convoy entered Peshawar on Thursday, the fifth day of the march, which began in Lakki Marwat on October 4 and is headed toward Islamabad.
Why were mobile services suspended in Peshawar?
A PTA official said services were shut in parts of the city as a security precaution ahead of the convoy’s arrival.
What is the contempt plea against the K-P chief minister about?
The Peshawar High Court has sought Afridi’s reply to a petition arguing that a government helicopter was improperly used for the party’s long march.
Is there still a chance of negotiations?
PTI chairman Barrister Gohar says the party wants a “middle way” through dialogue, and the prime minister has offered talks if PTI ends the march. The three formal rounds of talks collapsed on Sunday.
