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PTI's long march begins from Lakki Marwat after government-opposition talks fail to resolve differences over the protest and counter-terrorism cooperation.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has announced the launch of the first phase of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf long march from Lakki Marwat today afterAfridi said in a post on X that the first phase would begin at 1pm from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat, with convoys from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South Waziristan, North Waziristan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat joining the march.
The announcement came hours after marathon negotiations between the government and opposition failed to resolve differences over the proposed march and cooperation between the federal and KP governments on counter-terrorism. According to the schedule announced by Afridi, the march will spend Sunday night near Karak. On October 5, participants from Karak are scheduled to join the march at noon, with the convoy departing at 12:30pm and moving towards Kohat.
On October 6, convoys from Kohat, Hangu, Kurram and Orakzai are expected to join at noon. The convoy will then move towards Peshawar and spend the night near Matani. On October 7, the march is scheduled to leave Budh Bher in Peshawar at 12:30pm, with participants from Khyber district joining along the route. Other Peshawar convoys are expected to merge at the Kohat Road bridge and Motorway Toll Plaza before the convoy halts near Charsadda Interchange.
The march is scheduled to leave Charsadda Interchange at 12:30pm on October 8, when convoys from Charsadda and Mohmand are expected to join. Participants from across KP will then gather at Khairabad, where the next phase of the march is expected to be announced. Prime Minister's Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah has warned that the PTI march will not be allowed to enter Islamabad.
Sanaullah said the government's position was linked to the KP government's refusal, according to him, to provide assurances about cooperation with security forces in counter-terrorism operations. He said negotiations could resume if the PTI and KP government were prepared to cooperate on the issue of terrorism. The government has also maintained that the march should be called off as part of any political settlement.
The latest round of talks, chaired by National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, ended without an agreement after several hours of negotiations. The two sides remained divided over counter-terrorism measures, cooperation between the federal and KP governments and conditions surrounding the planned march. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said the march would proceed and that the party would continue efforts for dialogue.
He also said the negotiations had failed to achieve their intended objectives but maintained that nothing was final in politics. Government representatives, meanwhile, have accused the KP government of failing to provide adequate cooperation in the fight against terrorism. The opposition has rejected the government's position and maintained that its planned protest would remain peaceful. Amid preparations for the march, the federal government has extended the deployment of Rangers in Islamabad until October 15.
The deployment had previously been authorised until October 5. According to the notification reported by Dunya News, around 3,000 Rangers personnel will remain deployed in the capital during the extended period. The government has said security measures, including the placement of containers, are precautionary and aimed at protecting citizens and complying with court directions.