Sohail Afridi ‘not happy' with PTI's long march preparations

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi expressed displeasure on Tuesday over what he described as a lack of interest among some Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) members in preparations for the party's planned long march to Islamabad, according to party sources. CM Afridi made the remarks while chairing a meeting of PTI's parliamentary party at the Chief Minister's House in Peshawar, while some lawmakers did not attend the meeting in person and joined through Zoom. Addressing participants, Afridi criticised what he viewed as insufficient commitment to preparations for the march. 'We also have Mir Jafars and Mir Sadiqs within our ranks,' Afridi said. According to the sources, the chief minister reiterated that PTI would depart from Peshawar for Islamabad on October 4, saying that 'We are not going to conquer Islamabad, and the federal government is blocking our way.' Referring to allegations that protesters could carry sticks or slingshots, Afridi said: 'We will go with two hands and two feet.' The PTI had earlier postponed its planned long march to Islamabad from September 27 to October 4, with CM Afridi announcing the revised date on September 25. CM Afridi had said the decision to defer the march was part of the party's 'political strategy' and that negotiations with the federal government would continue even after the mobilisation. Later, CM Afridi said in a post on X, 'You should prepare; I am ready.' Meanwhile, PTI K-P President Junaid Akbar directed lawmakers and party leaders currently outside the country to return to Pakistan. Akbar said MPAs, MNAs, and party leaders who were not in Pakistan on October 4 would have no connection with PTI and told them they could form another party if they wished.