PTI March Will Go Ahead on Sept 27, Says KP CM Sohail Afridi
PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has maintained that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned march towards Islamabad will proceed on September 27, amid reports that some figures within the party have considered delaying the mobilisation until October 5.
Afridi’s position keeps the September 27 deadline intact as authorities tighten security around the federal capital and political contacts continue in an effort to reduce tensions.
PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has also publicly maintained that the party’s announced programme remains unchanged. In remarks reported Friday, Gohar said PTI had announced its plans well in advance and there would be “no change” in the programme.
The party has repeatedly said it intends the mobilisation to be peaceful. On Thursday, PTI explicitly instructed participants not to carry sticks, slingshots or weapons, while Afridi said the party was pursuing a peaceful protest rather than an armed confrontation.
October 5 Option Enters Discussion
Despite those public statements, uncertainty has emerged over whether the September 27 mobilisation could still be delayed.
Dawn reported Friday that PTI appeared divided over its final march strategy. Party leader Naeem Haider Panjutha suggested postponement could be considered if the government accepted demands including the release of Imran Khan and other political prisoners, elections within six to eight months, and investigations into the May 9 events and the November 26 crackdown.
However, a PTI spokesperson disputed the suggestion that postponement was formally under consideration and said only party founder Imran Khan could make such a decision.
The conflicting statements mean the safest current position is that the September 27 march remains officially scheduled, while alternative dates or strategies are being discussed by some party figures.
Government and PTI Remain in Contact
The uncertainty comes amid reported backchannel contacts between PTI and government authorities.
Geo News reported earlier this week that discussions had failed to produce a breakthrough because of a significant trust deficit. According to sources cited in that report, authorities were prepared to consider certain concessions if PTI called off the march and gave assurances against prolonged sit-ins, road blockades and confrontations with law enforcement.
Dawn separately reported that PTI had been told the government would not allow the march to proceed into Islamabad, while party insiders claimed possible confidence-building measures had been discussed. Government representatives disputed parts of those accounts.
These remain reported negotiating positions rather than a confirmed agreement between the two sides.
Security Tightened Around Islamabad
Authorities have meanwhile moved ahead with extensive security preparations.
The federal government has authorised deployment of Pakistan Rangers in Islamabad and several Punjab districts from September 20 to October 5, according to an Interior Ministry notification.
Major roads and approaches to Islamabad have also faced restrictions ahead of the mobilisation.
The Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway was visibly blocked on Thursday, while security measures have been introduced across routes connecting Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab with the capital.
The Punjab government has additionally requested restrictions on mobile and internet services at specified locations in Rawalpindi and Attock on September 27.
Afridi Has Consistently Backed Sept 27
Afridi has publicly supported the September 27 date for weeks.
On August 10, he said PTI’s federal and provincial leadership, along with the Tehreek Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen Pakistan alliance, had collectively agreed on the date.
Later in August, he described September 27 as a firm date and said he intended to lead the mobilisation himself.
As recently as September 22, Afridi again said PTI would exercise what he described as its constitutional right to peaceful protest despite arrests of party lawmakers and supporters.
PTI has linked the mobilisation primarily to demands concerning the imprisonment of Imran Khan and broader political and constitutional grievances.
Final March Strategy Still Developing
With September 27 now only two days away, the party’s public position and internal discussions require careful distinction.
Afridi and PTI Chairman Gohar say the announced programme remains in place, while other party figures have publicly discussed circumstances under which postponement could be considered.
There is currently no verified announcement that PTI has formally shifted the march to October 5.
Until the party formally announces a new date, September 27 remains the operative date for the Islamabad mobilisation.
