PESHAWAR: PTI Khyber Pakh­tun­khwa Secretary Information Shaukat Yousafzai said on Friday that the party’s protest march would start from the southern districts and be led by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.

“The march on October 4 will take place at any cost,” he said in a statement issued here.

He said the procession from the southern districts would be led by the chief minister, while the procession from Malakand Division would be led by PTI provincial president and MNA Junaid Akbar Khan.

He said processions from the southern districts, Peshawar, Malakand and Hazara would converge in Swabi, adding that preparations for the march had been completed and a shortage of resources would not be a hindrance.

Shaukat Yousafzai says CM Afridi will lead procession

Mr Yousafzai said the success of the government-opposition negotiations would depend on the government’s attitude.

He said the PTI had been demanding access to incarcerated party founder Imran Khan, his transfer to a hospital and early hearings of his cases.

He described PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as a mature and conciliatory person who would find a way forward.

“So far, I can call the government-opposition negotiations encouraging,” he said.

He said both sides had presented their respective positions during Friday’s negotiations, adding, “Let’s see what happens next.”

He further said the final destination of the protest march was Islamabad.

“Governor’s rule is not the solution to the problems; it will make the situation even more serious,” he said.

He said suggestions for imposing governor’s rule or an emergency were being made by non-political people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. If the government wanted to improve the situation, he added, it should immediately allow a meeting with Imran Khan.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2026