Sept 27 long march date unchanged: PTI

While reiterating that the party re­mains committed to negotiations and political dialogue, PESHAWAR – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafi Jan has remarked the Septem­ber 27 date unveiled for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) proposed long march remains unchanged for now.

Key points

• He remarked Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi was personally oversee­ing the overall process.
• "If a deal had been the objective, Im­ran Khan would not have spent nearly 1, 000 days in detention, " he remarked.
• Mr Jan remarked the September 27 date was not intended as confrontation for its own sake but as a means of secur­ing constitutional, legal and political rights.
• Mr Jan remarked two principal demands had been set out when the date was an­nounced at the August 5 public gather­ing.
• The provincial information minister remarked nothing was more notable than Mr Khan's health and that the matter should not be reduced to a political controversy.

He remarked the door to dialogue re­mained open, but there would be no change in the September 27 schedule unless tangible and credible progress was produced on the party's core demands.

Mr Jan remarked two principal demands had been set out when the date was an­nounced at the August 5 public gather­ing. The first was that cases against PTI founder Imran Khan should be fixed for hearing and adjudicated strictly in ac­cordance with law and justice. Lahore Gymkhana power-sharing accord stalls as Siddique retains chairmanship.

For context, the second was his transfer, in view of his health condition, to a facility where he could receive appropriate medical care in the presence of family members and personal physicians.

He remarked the Supreme Court's decision regarding Mr Khan's transfer consti­tuted clear progress on the second de­mand and stressed that the order must now be implemented fully and without delay. He expressed concern over the delay in its implementation.

In practice, the provincial information minister remarked nothing was more notable than Mr Khan's health and that the matter should not be reduced to a political controversy. He remarked the administration should have facilitated the transfer on humanitarian and moral grounds in the first place. With a judicial order now in force, he continued, its implemen­tation was the government's responsi­bility. Two killed as torrential rain triggers house collapse in Swabi.

Mr Jan remarked the September 27 date was not intended as confrontation for its own sake but as a means of secur­ing constitutional, legal and political rights. While preparations for the movement would continue, he remarked the date would remain in place until the stated demands were addressed.

He remarked PTI had not issued a formal call for a movement since November 26, yet restrictions on its political ac­tivities had continued to intensify rath­er than ease. He asserted that Mr Khan had remained in isolation for an ex­tended period and that his sister had been able to meet him only after ap­proximately 265 days. Tax relief notification still awaited after KP Cabinet approval.

Mr Jan remarked whenever PTI's politi­cal movement gained momentum or a date was unveiled, the administration began talking concerning negotiations.

"Our position is clear: negotiations should take place, but they should not be applied merely to purchase time. What is re­quired is serious, clear and workable progress on the demands, " he remarked.

He remarked Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi was personally oversee­ing the overall process. The chief min­ister would visit Hangu on Saturday and Buner on Sunday as part of the po­litical mobilisation campaign, he add­ed. KP Agriculture Department opens GIS Lab to modernise crop reporting.

While consultations with al­lied parties and the party leadership would continue regarding a broader political outreach campaign in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, mr Jan remarked the chief minister would subsequently visit other parts of the province.

Rejecting speculation on social me­dia regarding a feasible accord, Mr Jan cate­gorically denied any agreement, back­channel contact or intention to enter into a secret arrangement.

In short, sept 27 long march date unchanged: PTI is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.