PTI Long March Postponed: Sohail Afridi Announces October 4 as New Date
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has postponed its planned long march towards Islamabad, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announcing October 4, 2026, as the new date for the march from Peshawar.
The long march was originally scheduled for September 27, but the PTI political committee decided to defer the protest following consultations among the party leadership. Sohail Afridi formally announced the revised schedule during a press conference in Peshawar.
PTI Long March to Leave Peshawar on October 4
Sohail Afridi said the PTI political committee had discussed all aspects of the proposed Islamabad march before reaching the decision. According to his announcement, the long march will depart from Peshawar on October 4 and proceed towards Islamabad.
The chief minister described the postponement as a political strategy and maintained that PTI workers would continue their political struggle. He also said the party's protest would remain peaceful and referred to the constitutional right to peaceful assembly and protest.
There had been some uncertainty over the revised date. Reports emerging from the political committee meeting had initially mentioned October 5 as a possible date, but Afridi later formally confirmed October 4 as the departure date from Peshawar.
Why Did PTI Postpone the Islamabad March?
The decision came amid heightened political tensions and preparations by authorities ahead of the previously announced September 27 protest. Reports said the PTI leadership discussed the political and logistical situation, including the party's preparations for the march and possible restrictions on routes leading towards Islamabad.
PTI leadership has maintained that the delay should be viewed as part of its political strategy rather than a cancellation of the protest. Afridi said the party's workers would leave for Islamabad on the newly announced date.
According to reports, the party had also been discussing coordination with other opposition groups as part of its wider protest strategy.
Sohail Afridi Says PTI Workers Will Remain Peaceful
During his press conference, Sohail Afridi said PTI's long march would be peaceful. He argued that the party's political struggle was connected to what PTI describes as the supremacy of the Constitution, an independent judiciary, media freedom and "Haqiqi Azadi."
Afridi also criticised measures taken by authorities to restrict movement and alleged that PTI workers and political figures were facing pressure and arrests. These allegations have been reported as claims by the KP chief minister and remain part of the broader political dispute between PTI and the federal government.
PTI Calls for Political and Constitutional Issues to Be Resolved
The KP chief minister said political issues should be addressed through negotiations rather than arrests and confrontation.
