A Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) convoy led by former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur departed Dera Ismail Khan on Sunday as part of the party’s planned long march towards Islamabad, while a separate caravan led by incumbent KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi had yet to leave Lakki Marwat.
Before the departure, Gandapur urged participants to keep the protest peaceful, maintain discipline and avoid violence, vandalism and confrontation with law-enforcement personnel.
He said the party would follow a policy of “live and let live” during the protest and directed workers not to take the law into their own hands.
“Those who block roads or engage in confrontation are not our workers,” Gandapur said, calling on participants to remain peaceful and avoid any activity that could lead to clashes or damage to public or private property.
Gandapur described the march as part of PTI’s ongoing political struggle and said it reaffirmed the party’s commitment to its incarcerated founder, Imran Khan.
“We have made sacrifices for Imran Khan before and will not hesitate to make further sacrifices,” he said, adding that PTI would continue its “peaceful political struggle” for his release.
According to Gandapur, his convoy would travel through Yarik and Pezu before reaching Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat.
PTI workers had already begun gathering at Gandi Chowk on the Peshawar-Karachi Highway near Serai Naurang on Sunday afternoon to join the march.
Security arrangements were tightened in the area, with a heavy police contingent deployed alongside armoured personnel carriers and bomb disposal squads.
KP Chief Minister’s Special Assistant for Home and Tribal Affairs Tariq Saad said the “peaceful long march” would formally proceed from Gandi Chowk, with caravans from southern districts joining the procession.
He said workers from Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, North Waziristan and South Waziristan were expected to gather at the location.
Saad added that workers from districts where participation was affected by curfews or other law-and-order restrictions, particularly Tank and Waziristan, could join the procession on its route towards Peshawar the following day.
The PTI has announced a multi-day route for the march, with caravans from different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa expected to join at various points.
Under the announced schedule, participants from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan, North Waziristan and Bannu will join the procession at Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat on October 4.
The caravan is scheduled to spend the night near Karak before departing at 12:30pm the following day for Kohat, where participants will stay overnight.
On October 6, protesters from Kohat, Hangu, Kurram and Orakzai are expected to join the convoy at noon before it moves towards Peshawar and spends the night near Mattani.
The caravan will leave Budh Bair in Peshawar on the afternoon of October 7, with participants from remaining constituencies joining at Kohat Road Bridge and the Motorway Toll Plaza before the procession moves towards Charsadda Interchange.
On October 8, the convoy is scheduled to depart Charsadda Interchange at 12:30pm after participants from Charsadda and Mohmand join the march.
Afridi has said people from across KP would gather at Khairabad on October 8, where the participants would spend the night. He said details of the next phase of the journey would be announced there.
The PTI’s march, which seeks the release of jailed party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan, has emerged as another major point of tension between the federal government and the PTI.
The party had initially announced the march for September 27, accusing the government of illegally imprisoning its founder. It later postponed the protest until October 4.
Federal ministers have warned that the Centre could consider imposing governor’s rule or emergency in KP, citing security concerns and the planned protest. The PTI, meanwhile, has warned of serious consequences if such measures are taken.
Following weekend talks, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said protesters would not be allowed to enter Islamabad.
Authorities have imposed restrictions under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure in several KP districts, citing security and public safety concerns.
In Dera Ismail Khan, restrictions are in place from October 4 to October 6 between 6am and 6pm, restricting the movement of individuals and all types of traffic on specified roads and routes.
In Upper South Waziristan, Section 144 has been imposed from October 3 to October 5, restricting the movement of cargo vehicles, rickshaws and dumpers amid concerns over possible attacks involving vehicle-borne explosives.
In Lower South Waziristan, restrictions remain in place from October 1 to October 10, covering loader rickshaws, cargo vehicles, Shahzore vehicles, Mazdas, Suzuki loaders and dumpers in Wana and Azam Warsak.
In Tank, Section 144 has been imposed from 9pm on October 3 until noon on October 5, restricting the movement of individuals and traffic along specified routes.
Meanwhile, Hangu authorities have imposed restrictions from October 3 to October 6 on six routes, including the Hangu-Kohat, Hangu-Thall, Hangu Bypass and Hangu-Sumari roads.
The restrictions do not apply to law-enforcement agencies and emergency services, while exemptions may be granted by the district police officer or security forces.
