Summary The caravan led by KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had yet to depart from Lakki Marwat, where PTI workers were gathering at Gandi Chowk
PESHAWAR/LAKKI MARWAT/DI KHAN (Dunya News) - A large convoy of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers and supporters, led by former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur, departed from Dera Ismail Khan on Sunday as the party began its long march to demand the release of jailed PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.
The caravan led by KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had yet to depart from Lakki Marwat, where PTI workers were gathering at Gandi Chowk.
Before setting off from DI Khan, Gandapur urged participants to keep the protest peaceful, maintain discipline and avoid violence, vandalism or confrontation with law enforcement personnel.
He said the party would follow a “live and let live” policy during the march and directed workers not to take the law into their own hands.
“Those who block roads or engage in confrontation are not our workers,” Gandapur said, urging participants to avoid any activity that could lead to clashes or damage to public or private property.
He described the march as part of PTI’s ongoing political struggle for Imran Khan’s release, saying the party had previously made sacrifices for its founder and would continue its “peaceful political struggle”.
According to Gandapur, the convoy would pass through Yarik and Pezu before reaching Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat.
Meanwhile, PTI workers from several southern districts began assembling near Gandi Chowk along the Peshawar-Karachi Highway in Serai Naurang. A heavy security presence was deployed at the site, including police personnel, armoured personnel carriers and bomb disposal squads.
KP Chief Minister’s Special Assistant for Home and Tribal Affairs Tariq Saad said the peaceful march would formally begin from Gandi Chowk, with convoys from southern districts joining the caravan.
He said workers from Bannu, DI Khan, Tank, North Waziristan and South Waziristan were expected to participate.
Saad added that workers unable to join the march on Sunday because of curfews or other law-and-order restrictions would join the caravan on its route to Peshawar the following day.
The march follows PTI’s announcement in August that it would march on Islamabad against what it termed the “illegal imprisonment” of Imran Khan. The party had initially scheduled the march for September 27 but postponed it until October 4.
The planned protest has intensified tensions between the federal government and the PTI. Federal ministers have warned that the Centre could consider imposing governor’s rule or an emergency in KP, citing security concerns and the planned protest, while PTI leaders have warned of serious consequences if such measures are taken.
Following weekend talks, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah also warned that protesters would not be allowed to enter Islamabad.
