KARACHI/PESHAWAR: Admitting that the PTI enjoys public support, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Friday advised the opposition party to abandon extremist politics, warning that its current approach was eroding its vote bank and could keep its chairman behind bars for the rest of his life.
He said the PTI’s politics of extremism, refusal to engage in dialogue with other parties, defiance of parliament and confrontation with the establishment would bring it no gains and could leave Imran Khan with the distinction of being the politician who spent the longest time in prison.
Addressing the opening ceremony of a 25-acre sports complex built by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) in Baldia Town, the PPP chairman criticised Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, blaming him for the ongoing crisis and saying his actions were jeopardising the PTI’s political future, disappointing the people of his province and costing the party public support.
“The PTI is a party that has public support but it keeps disappointing the people because of its decisions and extremist politics,” he said. “Instead of fulfilling its responsibilities and taking care of its province and people, the party remains stuck in the politics of hate.
KP Governor Kundi challenges marchers to cross Swabi
“If the PTI continues with its extremist politics, Imran Khan sahib will break Asif Ali Zardari sahib’s record and remain a prisoner. If the PTI abandons its extremist politics, it will be able to achieve its political goals and save its workers from becoming disillusioned. Let’s see if they listen to what I am saying.”
He said abandoning extremism would create political space for the PTI to safeguard its future and avoid disappointing its voters, potentially paving the way for the release of its leaders.
“Politics in this country has a history, and this is how it works,” he said. “If you are in jail today, someone else may be there tomorrow. This cannot be a reason to abandon democratic and parliamentary politics in favour of extremism. Therefore, I suggest you return to parliamentary committees and start engaging with other political parties.”
The PPP chairman said that only a few days earlier, the federal government and the wider system had been prepared to impose an emergency in KP. The PPP, he said, had consistently maintained that imposing an emergency or introducing governor’s rule was a constitutional and legal option, but one that should be treated as a “legal atom bomb” and used only as a last resort.
“But the way CM Sohail Afridi is behaving, it seems very difficult to resist an emergency or governor’s rule,” the PPP chairman said. “Although all political parties, including those in the opposition, had reached an agreement, the chief minister of one province had chosen negative politics instead of pursuing dialogue. If they are true to their party and their leader, then the chief minister, who has been so vocal these days, must abandon this extremist politics if he is sincere about Imran Khan.”
Kundi challenges PTI marchers to cross Swabi
Earlier in the day, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi challenged PTI protesters to dare to cross Swabi, a KP district bordering Punjab’s Attock district, which the opposition party has announced as the eventual destination of its long march.
Mr Kundi questioned whether the PTI would actually reach Swabi on Oct 11. “They are probably going to Charsadda today, then they might go to Mardan, and after that they might end up reaching Afghanistan through Dir,” he said at a press conference in Peshawar. “Because whenever they turn towards Swabi, their legs start shaking and their hearts tremble. If they have any self-respect, they should reach Swabi tomorrow and cross it, or even step inside it. I will accept that you are a revolutionary party that aims to make a naya (new) Pakistan.”
Continuing his criticism of the party, he said senior PTI leaders were “sitting in drawing rooms” in Islamabad while others were in hiding. “They say they have run successful mobilisation campaigns across Sindh and Punjab; did you see anyone from these provinces on their long march’s truck?” he asked.
Responding to the PTI’s claims that KP lawmakers and cabinet members were being “abducted”, Kundi challenged the provincial chief minister to identify those responsible. “You KP CM Afridi should tell us who is abducting your ministers, as you are the chief executive of the province,” he said. “You cannot protect your ministers, MPAs and MNAs; how will you protect my people, the province and the nation? This is your position.”
Mr Kundi added that the KP chief minister and his cabinet should resign on ethical grounds.
Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2026
