Afridi-led convoy enters Peshawar as PTI long march continues for 5th day

Afridi-led convoy enters Peshawar as PTI long march continues for 5th day.

Key points

• Manzoor AliWaseem Ahmad ShahFaiz Muhammad Published October 8, 2026 Updated October 8, 2026 09: 26pm.
• It was to pass by Bhana Mari Chungi, Kohati Chowk at Circular Road, Jameel Chowk, Pir Zakori Bridge, Kabootar Chowk, and then intends to reach Charsadda Road.
• PESHAWAR: A convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi entered Peshawar on Thursday evening as PTI continued its long march for a fifth consecutive day.
• A post by the PTI's official X account shortly after 6pm remarked the Afridi-led convoy had reached Hayatabad Toll Plaza in Peshawar.
• The march was confirmed as part of the PTI's nationwide protest, initially scheduled for Sept 27 but was afterwards postponed to Oct 4.

Manzoor AliWaseem Ahmad ShahFaiz Muhammad Published October 8, 2026 Updated October 8, 2026 09: 26pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel.

In practice, the route plan for the march, being carried out to demand the release of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan, has undergone multiple changes since its launch on Oct 4.

While the party initially vowed to march towards Islamabad, its final destination seemingly remains tentative as the KP CM has yet to announce the plan for the trek after Oct 8.

In practice, a post by the PTI's official X account shortly after 6pm remarked the Afridi-led convoy had reached Hayatabad Toll Plaza in Peshawar. It additionally shared pictures of hundreds of supporters gathered to welcome the KP CM.

"God-willing, by the time it reaches Swabi, this caravan will become the largest long march in Pakistan's history, " the PTI asserted.

Addressing supporters at the toll plaza, CM Afridi pressed them to maintain their determination for the "struggle for true freedom".

"There might be some discomfort, but this pain is not greater than the pain Imran Khan sahib is enduring in jail for us, " he remarked.

Notably, the PTI leader continued, "We shall not hesitate to even sacrifice life for Imran Khan sahib."

While Afridi remarked he would announce the next plan of action after proceeding to other areas of Peshawar, he additionally noted the public would be "thrilled" upon hearing his plan when he reaches Swabi.

In a video shared by the PTI, Afridi could be seen raising slogans of "Free Imran Khan", with supporters chanting in harmony.

Ahead of the protesters' arrival, an unannounced disruption of mobile and cellular internet services was documented since last night in a number of areas of the provincial capital.

For context, the caravan seemed to be behind schedule as it was supposed to reach Hayatabad Toll Plaza by 2pm, according to the schedule for Oct 8 shared by Information Minister Shafi Jan in the morning.

Addressing PTI supporters at Bhana Mari Chowk in Peshawar, the KP CM remarked their next stop after Peshawar would be Charsadda, where he would share few details of the next course of action. The detailed plan, which he called a "yorker", would be shared in Swabi.

PTI's march began from Lakki Marwat on Oct 4, from where the protesters trekked to Kohat on the second day and then camped overnight on Oct 6 in Mattani, located on the outskirts of Peshawar. It then reached Khyber on Oct 7, before proceeding towards Peshawar.

According to an earlier schedule, CM Afridi was to lead his supporters to Khairabad – which borders Punjab's Attock – on Oct 8 and announce the next plan of action there.

Nevertheless, the chief minister has now stated the march will go all the way to Swabi, where he would announce the PTI's next move.

Meanwhile, the Centre has cautioned the party against any protests or gatherings in Islamabad. Nevertheless, the PTI decided to embark on the march after weekend negotiations with the federal administration failed to bridge their differences for multiple reasons, particularly over the counterterrorism policy.

Meanwhile, the march was confirmed as part of the PTI's nationwide protest, initially scheduled for Sept 27 but was afterwards postponed to Oct 4. Gohar calls for reviewing counterterrorism policy.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan remarked on Thursday that his party had never backed terrorism, adding that, nevertheless, the country's counterterrorism policy needed to be reviewed in the light of changing circumstances.

Gohar was speaking to the media in Charsadda. It is projected to be the next stop of the PTI's march after Peshawar.

For context, the PTI chairperson visited the residences of KP Public Health Engineering Minister Fazal Shakoor and MNA Fazal Mohammad Khan, whom the PTI alleges were abducted by unidentified men against the backdrop of reports of detentions of its workers and members ahead of the march.

Gohar expressed concern over their disappearance and demanded their immediate and safe recovery.

Speaking to the media at their residences, he observed that 18 days had passed since Shakoor's alleged abduction and his family had no information concerning his whereabouts.

He pressed the relevant authorities to take immediate notice of the matter and ensure that Shakoor and Khan were recovered and reunited with their families.

Gohar remarked the "enforced disappearances" were a matter of serious concern and stressed the need for rule of law and protection of citizens' constitutional rights. If such incidents were taking place in KP, they could additionally occur in other provinces, he further cautioned.

As federal ministers continue to indicate the feasible enforcement of either of the two, citing terrorism, he additionally rejected the imposition of governor's rule or an emergency as a solution to the prevailing situation in KP. The warning of a feasible emergency or governor's rule had come ahead of the PTI's long march and as negotiations between the opposition party in the Centre and the federal administration failed earlier this month.

For his part, Gohar remarked political matters should be resolved through constitutional and democratic means. He called upon the decision-makers to respect the public mandate and elected governments.

On the security situation, he asserted that the PTI, its workers and supporters had never backed terrorism. He remarked the party stood with the state in the fight against terrorism, but the country's policy on the problem needed to be reviewed in light of changing circumstances.

"Terrorism, whether in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan or Sindh, is against Pakistan, " he remarked, adding that the loss of any Pakistani's life in the fight against terrorism was a national loss. He pressed the implementation of the National Action Plan through a unified national policy rather than politicising the problem.

Gohar additionally defended CM Afridi, saying he had never issued a statement in backing of terrorists. He criticised what he described as attempts by some federal ministers to portray PTI as a supporter of terrorism.

For context, the PTI chairperson remarked his party was still ready for meaningful and positive dialogue with its political opponents and expressed hope that Jamiat Ulema-I-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman would play a constructive role in the prevailing situation. He thanked the JUI-F, Awami National Party and Jamaat-I-Islami for opposing the imposition of governor's rule.

After which the future course of action would be decided by the party leadership, on the PTI's long march, he remarked it would continue as per the decided schedule, with gatherings planned in Mardan on Oct 10 and Swabi on Oct 11.

He additionally criticised the imposition of Section 144 in parts of KP, saying elected representatives should be taken into confidence in matters concerning law and order.

He pressed all political parties, whether in administration or opposition, to play their role in strengthening democracy, an independent judiciary, free elections and the rule of law.

Gohar remarked the federal administration and the opposition needed to set aside their differences and engage in sincere, unconditional dialogue to support the country overcome its political crisis.

Though there was no word from the provincial administration on the unannounced cellular disruption, a Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) official, even so, confirmed to Dawn that the authority had ordered the suspension at the directives of higher authorities.

In practice, the official informed Dawn the suspension was temporary and taken as a security precaution during the long march. The official remarked the orders were conveyed on Wednesday night.

Taken together, the developments around afridi-led convoy enters Peshawar as PTI long march continues for 5th day point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.