Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has stepped up political consultations with opposition leaders as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf prepares for its planned September 27 protest in Islamabad.
Afridi met National Assembly Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas in Islamabad on Saturday. The meeting focused on the PTI’s September 27 call and the opposition’s future political strategy.
According to a statement issued by the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ain Pakistan, the leaders held detailed discussions on the planned mobilisation and ways to organise the political campaign. They also discussed constitutional supremacy, democratic rights, provincial rights and protection of the public mandate.
The meeting was the second interaction between Afridi, Achakzai and Abbas this week. The three leaders had also met on Thursday to discuss preparations for the September 27 protest.
The PTI has announced a march towards Islamabad to demand the release of party founder Imran Khan. The party is preparing a main convoy from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, while supporters from other parts of the country are expected to join the mobilisation before it heads towards the federal capital.
The opposition outreach comes as the PTI seeks broader political support for its protest. The Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ain Pakistan and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl had previously held consultations on cooperation and announced plans to work towards a united opposition platform.
Meanwhile, Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas also met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Speaking about the meeting, Abbas said he had not requested it and had not approached anyone to arrange the discussion.
Abbas said the meeting also covered concerns surrounding Imran Khan’s legal and political situation. He maintained that the issues raised by the PTI should be addressed through discussion.
He further said that no one other than Imran Khan could postpone the September 27 march. He added that the party’s protest would be conducted within constitutional limits.
The talks took place a day after the Islamabad High Court ruled that activities violating citizens’ fundamental rights would amount to a breach of the Constitution.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has warned that those violating the court’s directives or attempting to create unrest in Islamabad or any province would face legal action. He said law enforcement agencies had been directed to act against violations of the court order.
The PTI has been preparing for the September 27 mobilisation for several weeks. Under its initial strategy, party workers from different parts of the country were expected to reach Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa several days before the march.
The party had also planned to assemble its main convoy near the Punjab-Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa border before proceeding towards Islamabad. Additional caravans were expected to join the main procession during the mobilisation.
PTI’s preparations have also included proposed demonstrations and shutdown calls in major cities, including Lahore, Karachi, Hyderabad and Quetta. The party had also discussed protests along key national highways.
A financial and organisational structure was also outlined for the campaign. Party Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja was assigned responsibility for overseeing finances, while lawmakers were asked to mobilise supporters in their constituencies.
The party had estimated significant expenses for the first day of the march, with additional costs expected during the following days. PTI lawmakers and senior figures were also asked to contribute financially towards the mobilisation.
