Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Launches Multi-Day March to Islamabad

Afridi, representing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, frames the campaign as a moral crusade, declaring that stopping alleged state oppression constitutes a form of jihad. The march is scheduled to traverse southern districts, including Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, and North Waziristan, before converging on Peshawar and eventually moving toward the capital. The Chief Minister has issued an urgent call for supporters to join the caravan, which is expected to reach the Khairabad region by October 8.

The mobilization follows a period of intense friction between the provincial leadership and federal authorities. While Afridi accuses the center of failing to manage security and imposing harmful policies on his province, the federal government has signaled potential resistance. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi previously hinted at the possibility of imposing Governor’s Rule if the protests threaten regional stability, though other cabinet members have publicly advocated for dialogue. As the procession moves forward, the Islamabad High Court has already intervened, mandating that state infrastructure remain clear of political interference and warning against the obstruction of major thoroughfares.