PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Saturday struck a conciliatory tone, offering to resolve issues with the federal government through dialogue but warned that any “misadventure” could result in serious repercussions.
The PTI had been gearing up for a nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad to press for the release of its founder, Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail. However, CM Afridi announced a day ago that the march has been postponed to Oct 4.
Speaking to journalists during an informal discussion at KP House, Afridi said that his party had agreed to postpone the march to try and find amicable solutions to the issues through dialogue.
However, he warned that any “misadventure” could lead the situation to a point of no return.
Moreover, Afridi said that the federal government had 52 days to consider these demands, claiming the Centre was seeking time to discuss the issues.
“We are not an armed group”, he asserted. “We want issues resolved through dialogue. No one has refused to engage in a dialogue.”
The KP CM insisted that the PTI’s demands were genuine, including allowing Imran medical treatment at a private hospital in Islamabad, as well as granting him access to his lawyers, relatives and the court-nominated 18 party members.
CM Afridi stressed that he had approached courts and written to the federal government for permission to meet the jailed ex-premier, but was “forced” to announce the Islamabad march in August as concerns regarding Imran’s health persisted.
Asked about speculations regarding the imposition of governor’s rule in KP, the chief minister said his supporters will be “on the road on a 24-hour notice”. “They would not be able to afford my removal,” he contended.
Asked if there was any likely successor in the event of his removal from his office, the KP CM replied that it would be Imran’s prerogative. Afridi had been elected as the chief minister in October 2025, after the PTI founder had told Ali Amin Gandapur to resign.
The chief minister also criticised his counterpart in Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and others for allegedly singling out Pakhtuns, claiming that there was a “well-hatched conspiracy” to divide Pakistan.
“We are patriotic Pakistanis, and we are peaceful people. We will not allow any conspiracy to succeed,” he said.
Defending his performance as the chief minister, Afridi highlighted that his government met high revenue targets and provided resources to the police to fight terrorism in the province.
The PTI leader also reiterated his criticism of the federal government’s current Afghanistan policy and its failure to overcome terrorism.
Afridi recalled that he had presented his own plan to the country’s military and civilian leadership to restore peace in the province by re-engaging with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, reopening the border and ending the distinction between the so-called “good and bad Taliban”.
Soon after the decision to postpone the long march, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday invited Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Mehmood Achakzai for direct talks, apparently in a bid to ensure political stability in the country.
According to a source close to the prime minister, PM Shehbaz extended the invitation for dialogue, but no response had so far been received from the opposition leader. “Yes [the PM has invited Mr Achakzai], but nothing yet [from the opposition side],” the source said.
A PTI spokesman confirmed that the opposition leader had received the prime minister’s invitation.
Meanwhile, in the Rawalpindi Division and the federal capital territory, security measures and preparations to deal with any emergency situation remain in place despite the postponement of the march.
Punjab had already imposed a ban on gatherings across the province until Oct 5 and prohibited inciting people to “unlawful assembly”. A similar ban under Section 144 has been enforced in Islamabad for two months.
The federal government has also approved the deployment of Rangers in Islamabad and several districts of Punjab from Sept 20 to Oct 5.
Info minister calls Afridi a ‘coward’
Meanwhile, Information Minister Tarar defended the Centre’s counterterrorism policy and slammed the KP chief minister for his stance on the issue.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside the prime minister’s coordinator for KP Ikhtiar Wali, Tarar said: “Sohail Khan Afridi has lost his credibility and does not fight terrorists.
“Why do I call him a coward? This is the one party that is the TTP’s B-team and the TTA’s C-team,” he said, referring to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Afghanistan.
“He does not want to take ownership of operations against terrorists, nor does he believe in them. Nor has he done anything, because of cowardice,” Tarar added.
He claimed that the PTI had become weaker than ever and lost its political standing, alleging that the party had links with terrorists and was reluctant to condemn militant activities.
“You don’t want to fight terrorism, and you are finished on the political front as well.”
The minister asserted, “Our policy is not cowardice. We say openly that terrorists will be eliminated completely.”
Recognising the sacrifices made by the police and security forces, Tarar emphasised that the government was determined to completely eliminate terrorism.
“In 2026, over 4,600 suicide attacks may have happened, over 400 people may have been killed and over 1,500 injured, but will the provincial government listen?” he said.
Speaking about the PTI’s march, he contended, “They said they will come for the march at their own time […] You can claim it is your choice, but it is not your decision and it is not your march.”
In an X post in the evening, seemingly in response to Tarar’s remarks, Afridi asserted that his party was fully prepared for the march.
“Our workers are eager for a peaceful long march. In any emergency situation, hundreds of thousands of our workers will be on the streets within a 24-hour deadline,” the PTI leader said.
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