Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has announced the first phase of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march. The announcement came after government-opposition talks failed to resolve the deadlock over the planned protest.
The march will begin at 1pm on Sunday, October 4, from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat. Participants from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat are scheduled to join the caravan. The first overnight stop is planned near Karak.
PTI Long March Schedule
According to the schedule shared by Afridi, participants from Karak will join the caravan on October 5. The convoy will leave at 12:30pm and move towards Kohat. It will spend the night there.
On October 6, participants from Kohat, Hangu, Kurram and Orakzai will join the march. After that, the convoy will move towards Peshawar and camp near Matani.
On October 7, the march will leave Budh Bair in Peshawar at 12:30pm. Participants from Khyber District will join there. Meanwhile, other Peshawar constituencies are expected to join at Kohat Road Bridge and the motorway toll plaza. The caravan will then move towards Charsadda Interchange.
On October 8, the convoy will leave Charsadda Interchange at 12:30pm. Participants from Charsadda and Mohmand will join the march. After that, PTI supporters from across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are expected to gather at Khairabad. Afridi said the plan for the next phase would be announced there.
Government-PTI Talks End Without Agreement
The schedule was announced after more than eight hours of negotiations between the government and opposition ended without a breakthrough.
The talks were chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. However, both sides remained deadlocked over the October 4 march.
The opposition wanted its representatives to meet PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan before deciding on the protest. Meanwhile, the government sought the withdrawal of the march.
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah later said the talks also failed over cooperation in counterterrorism efforts. He warned that the PTI march would not be allowed to enter Islamabad. However, he left the door open for further dialogue if the required conditions were met.
What Happens Next?
Afridi has maintained that the protest will remain peaceful. He has also said there will be no repeat of the May 9 events.
The initial schedule announced by the KP chief minister covers the march up to Khairabad on October 8. However, the route and timing for the next phase towards Islamabad have not yet been detailed.
Meanwhile, the situation remains fluid as the PTI begins its mobilisation. The federal government continues to oppose the march entering Islamabad.
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