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October 09, 2026
Afridi-Led Convoy Enters Peshawar as PTI Long March Continues for 5th DayPeshawar: A convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi entered Peshawar on Thursday evening as PTI continued its long march for the fifth consecutive day.
The route plan for the march, being carried out to demand the release of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan, has undergone multiple changes since its launch on Oct 4.
While the party initially vowed to march towards Islamabad, its final destination seemingly remains tentative as the KP CM has yet to announce the plan for the trek after Oct 8.
A post by the PTI’s official X account shortly after 6pm said the Afridi-led convoy had reached Hayatabad Toll Plaza in Peshawar. It also shared pictures of hundreds of supporters gathered to welcome the KP CM.
“God-willing, by the time it reaches Swabi, this caravan will become the largest long march in Pakistan’s history,” the PTI asserted.
Addressing supporters at the toll plaza, CM Afridi urged them to maintain their determination for the “struggle for true freedom”.
“There might be some discomfort, but this pain is not greater than the pain Imran Khan sahib is enduring in jail for us,” he said.
The PTI leader went on to say, “We shall not hesitate to even sacrifice [our] life for Imran Khan sahib.”
While Afridi said he would announce the next plan of action after proceeding to other areas of Peshawar, he also said the public would be “thrilled” upon hearing his plan when he reaches Swabi.
In a video shared by the PTI, Afridi could be seen raising slogans of “Free Imran Khan”, with supporters chanting in harmony.
Ahead of the protesters’ arrival, an unannounced disruption of mobile and cellular internet services was reported since last night in several areas of the provincial capital.
Long march plan
The caravan seemed to be behind schedule as it was supposed to reach Hayatabad Toll Plaza by 2pm, according to the schedule for Oct 8 shared by Information Minister Shafi Jan in the morning.
It was to pass by Bhana Mari Chungi, Kohati Chowk at Circular Road, Jameel Chowk, Pir Zakori Bridge, Kabootar Chowk, and then plans to reach Charsadda Road.
Addressing PTI supporters at Bhana Mari Chowk in Peshawar, the KP CM said their next stop after Peshawar would be Charsadda, where he would share few details of the next course of action. The detailed plan, which he called a “yorker”, would be shared in Swabi.
PTI’s march began from Lakki Marwat on Oct 4, from where the protesters trekked to Kohat on the second day and then camped overnight on Oct 6 in Mattani , located on the outskirts of Peshawar. It then reached Khyber on Oct 7, before proceeding towards Peshawar.
According to an earlier schedule, CM Afridi was to lead his supporters to Khairabad — which borders Punjab’s Attock — on Oct 8 and announce the next plan of action there.
However, the chief minister has now said the march will go all the way to Swabi, where he would announce the PTI’s next move.
The Center has warned the party against any protests or gatherings in Islamabad. However, the PTI decided to embark on the march after weekend talks with the federal government failed to bridge their differences for multiple reasons , particularly over the counterterrorism policy.
The march was announced as part of the PTI’s nationwide protest, initially scheduled for Sept 27 but was later postponed to Oct 4.
Gohar calls for reviewing counterterrorism policy
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said on Thursday that his party had never supported terrorism, adding that, however, the country’s counterterrorism policy needed to be reviewed in the light of changing circumstances.
Gohar was speaking to the media in Charsadda, which is expected to be the next stop of the PTI’s march after Peshawar.
The PTI chairperson visited the residences of KP Public Health Engineering Minister Fazal Shakoor and MNA Fazal Mohammad Khan, whom the PTI alleges were abducted by unidentified men amid reports of detentions of its workers and members ahead of the march.
Gohar expressed concern over their disappearance and demanded their immediate and safe recovery.
Speaking to the media at their residences, he noted that 18 days had passed since Shakoor’s alleged abduction and his family had no information about his whereabouts.
He urged the relevant authorities to take immediate notice of the matter and ensure that Shakoor and Khan were recovered and reunited with their families.
Gohar said the “enforced disappearances” were a matter of serious concern and stressed the need for rule of law and protection of citizens’ constitutional rights. If such incidents were taking place in KP, they could also occur in other provinces, he further warned.
He also rejected the imposition of governor’s rule or an emergency as a solution to the prevailing situation in KP, as federal ministers continue to indicate the possible enforcement of either of the two, citing terrorism. The warning of a possible emergency or governor’s rule had come ahead of the PTI’s long march and as talks between the opposition party in the Centre and the federal government failed earlier this month.
For his part, Gohar said political issues should be resolved through constitutional and democratic means. He called upon the decision-makers to respect the public mandate and elected governments. - Dawn
Courtesy Dawn
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