Afridi signals PTI march will continue beyond Swabi amid governor dispute
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi led PTI supporters from Peshawar towards Charsadda on October 9, the protest march's sixth day, saying it would continue beyond Swabi without identifying a final destination.
The march began on October 4 to demand the release of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan. The party initially promised to head towards Islamabad, but its route has changed repeatedly. No onward plan has been announced beyond Swabi, which participants intend to reach on October 11.
On the way to Charsadda, Afridi urged supporters not to worry and said they would have other places to go after Swabi. He dismissed federal warnings about crossing the provincial boundary as empty threats and asserted that workers could not be harmed.
The protest followed unsuccessful weekend talks with the federal government, with counterterrorism policy among the disagreements. Federal ministers warned PTI against taking the march outside the province and linked the dispute to the possible imposition of an emergency or governor's rule.
At a press conference in Peshawar, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi questioned whether PTI would reach Swabi and challenged participants to cross the district, which borders Attock in Punjab. He criticised changes to the route and claimed some senior party leaders remained in Islamabad or were hiding.
Responding to PTI allegations that lawmakers and cabinet members were being abducted, Kundi demanded that Afridi explain who was responsible. The governor called on the chief minister and cabinet to resign on ethical grounds. He accused the provincial administration of incompetence and cited strikes by doctors, teachers, nurses and municipal officers.
Kundi said the president or prime minister would decide on an emergency or governor's rule according to their assessment of conditions. He promised to provide a report based on available information if requested by the federal government.
A separate dispute concerned Kundi's meeting with the provincial chief secretary and police inspector general about law and order. Afridi objected and called for legislation allowing a governor's impeachment for violating the Constitution. Kundi defended the meeting, claiming provincial leaders were occupied with the march, and described counterterrorism as his priority. The accusations on both sides remain political claims.
