KP chief minister defiant as Centre keeps up governor's rule threat over PTI's Oct 4 march

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Tuesday said no threat would shift the PTI from its plan to march on Islamabad on Oct 4, even as the federal government kept up its warnings of governor’s rule and an emergency in the province (UrduPoint).

Addressing a ceremony in Peshawar, Afridi said Pakistan’s “biggest-ever long march” was set for Oct 4, adding that “no threat, gun or stick” could force PTI “even an inch away from [its] objective”. At a separate press conference in Peshawar the same day, he said the march would initially move towards Swabi before proceeding further, with a chain of command in place to guide workers, and that former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur would lead the march alongside him (24NewsHD).

The march is part of PTI’s nationwide protest demanding the release of party founder Imran Khan, who has been incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail since 2023 (Aaj English TV).

The Centre has not backed down either. Federal ministers have warned that governor’s rule in KP “can definitely happen if required”, with consultations under way, while KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi advised the PTI government not to “force the Centre” to impose an emergency, according to Dawn. PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said on Tuesday the party would “strongly resist” any attempt to impose governor’s rule or an emergency (24NewsHD).

Sources

• Dawn — KP govt defiant as Centre warns of governor’s rule
• UrduPoint — Pakistan’s biggest-ever long march to take place on October 4: Sohail Afridi (29 Sep 2026)
• 24NewsHD — Sohail Afridi says more people will join Oct 4 march (29 Sep 2026)
• 24NewsHD — Gohar says PTI will resist if governor’s rule or emergency imposed in KP (29 Sep 2026)
• Aaj English TV — PTI sets Oct 4 long march, plans prolonged stay in Swabi (29 Sep 2026)