PESHAWAR, October 6: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march will not be allowed to move beyond Attock.
The march, led by KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, is seeking the release of jailed PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan. The federal government has said it will prevent the protesters from entering Islamabad.
Speaking to Geo News, Kundi questioned PTI’s ability to take the march beyond Attock.
“They cannot go any further than Attock,” he said. He also rejected PTI’s claim that two million people were taking part in the march.
Kundi also raised concerns about security arrangements for the convoy.
He said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was already facing a serious militancy threat. He questioned whether PTI had adequate screening measures to prevent anyone planning an attack from joining the march.
The governor also criticised the PTI-led provincial government over its response to militancy. He accused the party of favouring talks with Afghanistan and calling for the army to leave the province.
Kundi also made allegations against Imran Khan and PTI leader Muraad Saeed. PTI was not quoted in the report as responding to those specific allegations.
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Governor’s Rule Discussed
Kundi said he had recently met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Peshawar.
According to Kundi, they discussed the security situation, dialogue with PTI and the long march.
Asked about governor’s rule in KP, Kundi said it could be implemented if the president and prime minister considered it necessary.
He described the measure as a last resort.
Earlier, Kundi had also warned that emergency measures could be considered if necessary to protect the province.
PTI Convoy Moves Towards Punjab Border
The PTI convoy began its march from southern KP after negotiations with the federal government failed to resolve major differences.
The march was originally planned for September 27 but was later postponed to October 4.
The convoy has since moved through parts of southern KP and reached Kohat.
The protesters are expected to move towards Khairabad, near the Punjab border, on October 8. Afridi is expected to announce the next phase of the protest there.
The government has deployed security measures around Islamabad and other areas along the expected route.
Authorities have also imposed restrictions under Section 144 in several districts ahead of the march.
Talks End in Deadlock
The march followed the collapse of talks between PTI and the federal government.
Government negotiators blamed Afridi for the failure. PTI rejected the allegation and said disagreements remained over access to Imran Khan, his medical treatment and the government’s counterterrorism policy.
PTI says the government had agreed to restore meetings between Khan and his family and lawyers.
The two sides, however, failed to reach a broader agreement.
The political standoff has intensified as the PTI-led convoy continues towards the Punjab border.
