Sohail Afridi Stands Firm on October 4 PTI March

ISLAMABAD, October 3, 2026: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has reiterated that the PTI’s planned march towards Islamabad will proceed on October 4, even as government and opposition representatives prepare for a second round of talks.

Afridi said the PTI would continue its political struggle within the Constitution and law. He also said the party would not allow a repeat of the events of May 9.

The chief minister said the October 4 procession would begin from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat at 1pm. PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Secretary Shaukat Yousafzai separately said the march would start from southern districts under Afridi’s leadership. Other processions are expected to converge in Swabi before moving towards Islamabad.

Government and PTI Resume Negotiations

The latest political developments come as government and PTI representatives continue negotiations aimed at easing tensions over the proposed march.

The first formal round took place on Friday under National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq. Both sides presented their positions but did not announce a final agreement. The second round was scheduled for Saturday afternoon in the Speaker’s Chambers.

According to reports, PTI has sought the transfer of its incarcerated founder Imran Khan to a hospital for medical treatment. The government, meanwhile, has asked the opposition to cancel the October 4 protest.

PTI Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas said the march would remain on the schedule until the negotiations produced a solution. He also called for continued political dialogue.

PPP Calls for March to Be Called Off

Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has also urged PTI to withdraw the planned march without conditions.

Bilawal said resolving political disputes through dialogue would allow political parties to focus on security challenges and threats facing the country. PPP Senator Sherry Rehman repeated the party’s position after Friday’s talks, saying the march should be cancelled rather than merely postponed.

At the same time, the government has warned that continued confrontation could lead to further constitutional and administrative measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Reports have indicated that options including governor’s rule or an emergency have been discussed by government officials, although the government and opposition remain engaged in talks.

PTI Maintains Its Position

Afridi has described the PTI’s demands as constitutional and linked the march to calls for legal and judicial issues to be addressed.

Meanwhile, Shaukat Yousafzai said PTI’s preparations for the march had been completed. He said the party wanted access to Imran Khan, his possible transfer to a hospital and progress in his legal cases.

The talks now face a tight timeline, with the planned October 4 march only a day away. Both sides have publicly maintained their positions while continuing negotiations through parliamentary channels.