PTI shared videos on social media showing Afridi arriving at the gathering, where party workers assembled to protest.

LAKKI MARWAT: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday launched the first phase of its long march from Lakki Marwat towards Swabi amid a deadlock in negotiations with the federal government over political demands, Imran Khan’s access and counterterrorism policy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

The march, initially scheduled for September 27, was postponed to October 4. However, marathon negotiations between the government and opposition failed to produce an agreement, leaving the planned protest on course.

K-P Chief Minister Sohail Afridi arrived in Lakki Marwat by helicopter to lead the procession, where PTI workers gathered to welcome him. The party later said the march had begun in stages, with no decision announced on a march to Islamabad.

Sohail Afridi Leads PTI Long March From Lakki Marwat

PTI shared videos on social media showing Afridi arriving at the gathering, where party workers assembled to participate in the protest.

In a subsequent statement, the party said the long march would continue until constitutional supremacy, the rule of law and the release of political prisoners, including PTI founder Imran Khan, were secured.

The first phase was scheduled to begin at 1pm on Sunday from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat, with caravans from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat joining the procession.

According to the schedule announced by Afridi, participants were expected to stay overnight near Karak before continuing towards Kohat on Monday.

On Tuesday, caravans from Kohat, Hangu, Kurram and Orakzai were scheduled to join the march before the procession moved towards Peshawar.

PTI Announces Route Towards Peshawar and Khairabad

The PTI long march schedule outlined a multi-day route through several districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

On Wednesday, October 7, the procession was expected to depart from Budh Bair in Peshawar, with participants from Khyber district and other constituencies joining along Kohat Road and near the motorway toll plaza. The participants were scheduled to stay overnight near the Charsadda interchange.

On Thursday, October 8, the caravan was expected to resume its journey towards Khairabad, with participants from Charsadda and Mohmand joining along the way.

Afridi said people from across K-P would gather at Khairabad and stay there overnight. He added that the next phase of the long march would be announced at the location.

The schedule did not announce a confirmed march towards Islamabad.

PTI-Government Talks Fail to Break Deadlock

The launch of the PTI long march followed two days of negotiations between government representatives and a joint opposition team comprising PTI and Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Aain Pakistan (TTAP).

The talks, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, ended without an agreement despite progress on several proposed measures.

The government sought the postponement or cancellation of the march, while the opposition demanded assurances on political and legal issues before withdrawing its protest plans.

Access to Imran Khan emerged as a major sticking point. The opposition maintained that Khan needed to be consulted before a final decision could be made about the march.

The PTI negotiating team also sought arrangements for Khan’s medical examination and treatment, including the involvement of his personal physician.

Another major disagreement concerned counterterrorism measures in K-P. The opposition called for a joint strategy developed through consultation between the federal and provincial governments, political parties and other relevant stakeholders.

Government and Opposition Exchange Accusations

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi accused the K-P government, particularly Chief Minister Afridi, of undermining the negotiations. He claimed that the two sides had agreed on approximately 99 per cent of the draft before the talks collapsed over security-related matters.

Naqvi said the federal government wanted the provincial administration to cooperate in combating terrorism and implementing the National Action Plan.

PPP leader Sherry Rehman also accused the K-P government of withdrawing from commitments concerning counterterrorism cooperation.

PTI leaders, however, said the government had refused to accept their principal demands, particularly immediate access to Imran Khan and broader consultation on security policy.

PTI leader Salman Akram Raja argued that counterterrorism measures should be jointly agreed upon by the federal and provincial governments rather than imposed unilaterally.

The party maintained that it opposed terrorism but wanted a security strategy that protected civilians, considered local concerns and incorporated the views of elected representatives and tribal stakeholders.

PTI Maintains Protest Despite Failed Negotiations

PTI leaders have maintained that the long march will continue until the party’s demands concerning Imran Khan, constitutional supremacy, judicial independence and political rights are addressed.

The federal government, meanwhile, has stressed the need for provincial cooperation against terrorism and warned against politicising security matters.

With negotiations ending without a breakthrough, the long march has added to political tensions between the federal government and the K-P administration.

The next phase of the procession is scheduled to proceed through Karak, Kohat and Peshawar before reaching Khairabad on October 8, where PTI plans to announce its subsequent course of action.