Afridi was elected KP chief minister in October 2025 after Ali Amin Gandapur stepped down from the office.

KP CM Offers Dialogue with Federal Government, Warns Against ‘Misadventure’

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has offered to resolve political issues with the federal government through dialogue, while warning that any “misadventure” could push the situation towards a point of no return.

Afridi made the remarks during an informal interaction with journalists at KP House on Saturday, a day after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced that its planned Islamabad long march had been postponed from September 27 to October 4.

The PTI had been preparing for a nationwide protest and march towards Islamabad to demand the release of party founder Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi. The revised march is scheduled to depart from Peshawar on October 4.

Afridi said the decision to postpone the march was taken to provide an opportunity for resolving outstanding issues through negotiations.

“We are not an armed group,” he said, stressing that the PTI wanted its concerns addressed through dialogue.

The chief minister said the federal government had been given time to consider the party’s demands and claimed that the Centre was seeking an opportunity to discuss the issues.

PTI demands for Imran Khan

Afridi said the PTI’s demands included allowing Imran Khan to receive medical treatment at a private hospital in Islamabad and providing him access to his lawyers, relatives and the 18 party members nominated by the court.

He said he had approached the courts and the federal government regarding permission to meet the former prime minister, but claimed that continued concerns about Khan’s health had eventually led him to announce the Islamabad march.

On speculation about the possible imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Afridi said PTI supporters would come onto the streets within 24 hours if he were removed from office.

Asked about a possible successor, he said the decision would rest with Imran Khan.

Afridi was elected KP chief minister in October 2025 after Ali Amin Gandapur stepped down from the office.

Afridi criticises federal and Punjab governments

The KP chief minister also criticised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and other federal and provincial officials over what he described as the targeting of Pakhtuns.

Afridi alleged that there was a “well-hatched conspiracy” aimed at creating divisions in the country, while asserting that PTI supporters were peaceful and patriotic Pakistanis.

Defending his provincial government’s performance, he said it had met high revenue targets and provided resources to the police to combat terrorism.

Afridi also repeated his criticism of the federal government’s Afghanistan policy, saying Islamabad had failed to adequately address terrorism in the province.

He said he had previously presented a proposal to the country’s military and civilian leadership that included re-engagement with the Afghan Taliban government, reopening the border and ending distinctions between what he called “good” and “bad” Taliban.

PM Shehbaz invites opposition leader for talks

The developments came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited National Assembly opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai for direct talks.

A source close to the prime minister said Shehbaz had extended the invitation as part of efforts to promote political stability, while a PTI spokesperson confirmed that Achakzai had received the invitation.

No response from Achakzai had been reported at the time.

Meanwhile, security arrangements remained in place in Islamabad and the Rawalpindi Division despite the postponement of the PTI march.

Punjab has imposed restrictions on public gatherings until October 5, while Section 144 is also in force in Islamabad. The federal government has approved the deployment of Rangers in Islamabad and several Punjab districts through October 5.

Attaullah Tarar rejects Afridi’s claims

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar meanwhile criticised Afridi and the PTI-led KP government over their position on counterterrorism operations.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Tarar accused the KP government of failing to take sufficient action against militants and alleged that the PTI had links with militant groups.

Tarar described the PTI as the “B-team” of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the “C-team” of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA), allegations that the PTI has not accepted. He also criticised Afridi personally over his approach to counterterrorism.

The minister said the federal government remained committed to eliminating terrorism and highlighted the sacrifices of police and security forces.

Tarar also challenged the PTI’s plans for the Islamabad march, saying the party could not unilaterally decide how or when restrictions imposed by the authorities would be dealt with.

Afridi later responded on social media, saying PTI workers remained prepared for a peaceful long march and would mobilise within 24 hours if an emergency situation arose.

The political exchange comes as both sides remain at odds over Imran Khan’s detention, the PTI’s political demands, security policy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the planned October 4 march.

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Sohail Afridi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, PTI, PTI Long March, Islamabad March, October 4 March, Imran Khan, Attaullah Tarar, Shehbaz Sharif, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Pakistan Politics, KP Government, Political Dialogue, Pakistan