Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi continued PTI’s march on Monday by addressing supporters in Karak and then departing for Kohat despite warnings from the federal government. The protest aims to demand the release of jailed party founder Imran Khan. After talks with the federal government failed, PTI proceeded with its march, criticizing the Centre's counterterrorism policy and past military operations. Afridi’s convoy faced delays but plans to stay overnight in Kohat before continuing towards Peshawar on October 6. The article also mentions restrictions under Section 144 in several KP areas and disruptions in Karachi where over 75 PTI workers were detained by police.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has initiated a protest march towards Islamabad demanding the release of jailed PTI party founder Imran Khan. The march began on October 4 from Lakki Marwat and is expected to reach Swabi, where processions from southern districts will converge. Despite federal ministers threatening to impose governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to prevent the march, Afridi remains committed to proceeding. Security measures are stringent, with police and bomb disposal squads deployed along the route. PTI leaders have urged active public participation in their political process, aiming to highlight their movement's reach across Pakistan. Talks between government and opposition failed due to disagreements over key issues, leading to heightened tensions and the possibility of further confrontations. Islamabad has been fortified with barricades to prevent protesters from entering the city, reflecting escalating governmental measures against the protest. The situation underscores a potential slide towards authoritarianism, mirroring historical patterns in Pakistan's governance. PTI supporters have mobilized significantly, including a large presence at Karak where the convoy paused for the night. Afridi emphasized patience and endurance during the march, aiming to culminate with a significant demonstration near Islamabad by October 8. Despite opposition from Information Minister Attaullah Tarar over the use of state resources like helicopters for political purposes, the movement remains resolute in its goals. Overall, the scenario paints a picture of deepening political crisis with unclear resolutions on the horizon.
Written for “PTI Long March Islamabad” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 18 other(s) covering the same event.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday resumed PTI’s march as he addressed supporters in Karak, from where his convoy will depart for Kohat.
asserted
convoy → resume → Kohat
The opposition has gone ahead with its march despite warnings from the Centre, which has vowed to prevent any gatherings in Islamabad.
asserted
which → go → Islamabad
The protest aims to demand the release of jailed party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.
asserted
protest → aim → Khan
PTI decided to embark on the march after weekend talks with the federal government to bridge their differences failed for multiple reasons, particularly over the counterterrorism policy.
asserted
talks → decide → policy
Addressing party supporters at Karak’s Jail Chowk on Monday, the chief minister again railed against the Centre’s counterterrorism policy and criticised past military operations and drone attacks.
asserted
minister → address → operations
Afridi also referred to Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s remarks from a day earlier, wherein the latter called him “immature”.
asserted
latter → refer → him
He went on to recall Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz’s remarks on the terrorism threat to her province, adding: “Suppose, I say that [my province] does not have a threat from India, but from the other three provinces, will you consider me mature?”
asserted
me → go → provinces
Earlier, Afridi’s focal person for digital media Yar Muhammad Khan Niazi shared a video on X of PTI supporters welcoming the KP CM at Karak’s Jail Chowk.
asserted
supporters → share → Chowk
According to a post by CM Afridi, the people of Karak were to join the convoy at 12pm, with the departure set for 12:30pm, which faced a delay.
uncertain
which → accord → delay
The convoy plans to stay overnight in Kohat, and then resume the journey towards Peshawar at noon on Oct 6.
asserted
convoy → plan → Oct
It will spend the night near Mattani.
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It → spend → Mattani
The march so far
After launching the already-postponed march from Lakki Marwat on Sunday afternoon, the KP CM’s caravan reached Karak at night, where Afridi addressed supporters at Jail Chowk.
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Afridi → launch → Chowk
Ahead of the march, movement on several roads in KP’s Dera Ismail Khan, Upper and Lower South Waziristan, Tank and Hangu was restricted under Section 144 for varying periods.
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movement → restrict → periods
On Monday, former KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur, who was leading PTI workers from DI Khan to Lakki Marwat, took a U-turn from Yarik because of road blockades and the prevailing law and order situation.
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who → lead → blockades
Noting that Section 144 had been imposed in the area for three days, Gandapur stressed that the party leadership had clearly directed workers not to damage public property or engage in any activity that could worsen the situation.
uncertain
that → note → situation
Nevertheless, he contended that the return should not be viewed as a withdrawal from the protest movement, but as a temporary decision.
asserted
return → contend → decision
In Karachi, a planned protest campaign in different areas was disrupted after police deployed personnel at several locations, blocked roads and detained several party workers and leaders.
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police → plan → workers
The PTI claimed that police detained more than 75 of its leaders and workers, including women, from different parts of Karachi.
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police → claim → Karachi
It further alleged that arrests made in other parts of Sindh, including Sukkur, put the total number of detained PTI workers across the province at more than 100.
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arrests → allege → 100
On Saturday night, an opposition delegation comprising PTI and Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP), and a joint team of the government and PPP held hours-long negotiations, which ended in a deadlock.
asserted
which → comprise → deadlock
While the federal government blamed CM Afridi for the failure of negotiations, PTI denied the allegations and claimed that access to Imran, his medical treatment and the federal government’s counterterrorism policy were the key reasons.
asserted
access → blame → Imran
According to PTI, the government agreed to restore meetings between Imran and his family members and lawyers from Tuesday, but “declined to make access to Imran Khan part of the proposed agreement”.
uncertain
access → accord → agreement
The Aporia
