Stories
Sohail Afridi Leads PTI March, Rejects KP Military Action: "No Guns, But People's Power"
- •Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi launched PTI's long march towards Islamabad, defying federal government warnings and rejecting policies against KP's interests.
- •Afridi addressed thousands in Lakki Marwat, stating the protest demands the release of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan and opposes decisions made "behind closed doors."
- •He declared KP would not accept military operations or drone strikes, emphasizing that policies must reflect the will of its people and linking the march to a wider struggle for KP's political and security direction.
- •Afridi claimed policies over the past 22 years contributed to terrorism in KP, advocating for a policy shift with provincial stakeholder involvement and asserting that peace prevailed during Imran Khan's tenure.
- •The march proceeds after failed negotiations between the federal government and PTI, with the federal government warning against entry into Islamabad and imposing Section 144 restrictions.
Key Questions Answered
The primary objective of the long march is to demand the release of jailed PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, alongside protesting against policies imposed without provincial consultation and opposing potential military operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Talks broke down after Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused Sohail Afridi of altering an agreed draft, with negotiations failing over disagreements regarding counterterrorism cooperation, the implementation of the National Action Plan, and PTI's core demands.
Sohail Afridi strongly rejected military operations and drone strikes in the province, stating that his government would say absolutely not to any counterterrorism policies formulated without the participation of KP provincial stakeholders.
