Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has announced that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will postpone its planned Islamabad long march from September 27 to October 4. Afridi said the march would depart from Peshawar on the new date, following days of political mobilisation, road blockades, arrests and heightened security preparations. The decision represents a change in PTI's immediate protest schedule, while the party's demand for the release of Imran Khan remains central to the mobilisation.

Sohail Afridi confirms new date for PTI march

Pakistan's political situation entered a new phase on Friday, September 25, after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi announced that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's planned long march toward Islamabad would no longer begin on September 27.

According to reports from Friday, Afridi confirmed that the march would now depart from Peshawar on October 4.

Geo News reported that Afridi announced the revised date and said: “Our [PTI] long march [towards Islamabad] will depart from Peshawar on October 4.”

The announcement followed a day of uncertainty during which different PTI leaders and media reports gave conflicting indications about whether the September 27 plan would continue.

The change means that the political mobilisation that had been expected this weekend has been moved forward by one week.

Earlier commitment to September 27

The postponement is particularly significant because Afridi had repeatedly insisted during the previous days that PTI would proceed with the September 27 march.

On September 21, Afridi said PTI would participate in the protest and described peaceful protest as a constitutional right. He also said the party had no intention of confrontation and would pursue its demands through peaceful and democratic means.

On September 24, PTI leaders were still publicly saying that the march would proceed as scheduled.

PTI KP Information Secretary Shaukat Yousafzai said workers had been instructed not to carry sticks, slingshots or weapons and that anyone carrying such items would not be considered connected with the party's peaceful protest.

Afridi also described the planned mobilisation as a peaceful political protest rather than an armed struggle.

Therefore, the decision announced on September 25 marks a clear change in the immediate timetable.

Why was the march postponed?

Reports indicate that the decision came after PTI leadership discussed the rapidly changing situation in Islamabad and surrounding areas.

Extensive security measures had already been introduced by federal and Punjab authorities.

Major roads had been blocked or restricted, containers were placed at different locations and additional security personnel were deployed.

Pakistan Today reported that PTI postponed the march while citing the extensive security measures already put in place by the federal and Punjab governments.

A senior PTI leader separately told Dawn that the march would now leave Peshawar on October 4.

The new date therefore comes after several days of political confrontation over road closures and security preparations.

Afridi's earlier press conference and political accusations

Before the postponement was confirmed, Afridi had used his public appearances to strongly criticise the federal government's handling of the PTI protest.

During a press conference in Peshawar on September 25, Afridi questioned the presence of officials from other provinces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and alleged that personnel from another province were entering KP and clashing with provincial government employees.

These were allegations made by Afridi; they should not be treated as independently established facts without additional verification.

He also raised concerns about road blockades and the broader security situation.

According to a report by UrduPoint, Afridi said the march would take place despite roadblocks and other difficulties, while discussing what he described as attempts to prevent PTI's political activity.

PTI leadership meeting changes the timetable

The final decision followed a meeting of the PTI political leadership.

Reports indicate that senior party figures discussed whether the September 27 date remained practical in view of the security situation.

There were also reports during the day that PTI leadership was considering dates between October 5 and October 10.

ARY News reported earlier on September 25 that PTI leadership had discussed postponing the march and that a new timeframe between October 5 and 10 had been proposed by some participants. The report said a number of party leaders were also discussing contacts with other opposition parties.

Later reports, however, settled on October 4 as the revised date.

This explains why conflicting reports appeared throughout Friday.

October 4 becomes the new focus

The announcement means October 4 is now the key date for PTI's next major mobilisation.

According to the latest reports, the march will begin from Peshawar before moving toward Islamabad.

This is important because Peshawar is the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and is expected to serve as the main starting point for the PTI mobilisation.

The route, timing, number of participants and detailed arrangements remain subject to further announcements by PTI leadership.

The party's supporters are expected to receive additional instructions before the new date.

Imran Khan's release remains central demand

The PTI march was originally announced as part of the party's campaign demanding the release of Imran Khan.

Khan remains imprisoned at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, and his release has remained one of PTI's principal political demands.

Reports on the postponement continue to identify Khan's release as the central issue behind the planned mobilisation.

The change from September 27 to October 4 does not represent an announcement that PTI has withdrawn this demand.

Instead, the party has changed the date of its planned protest.

Security arrangements remain important

The postponement also raises questions about the security arrangements already introduced around Islamabad.

Authorities had taken measures to restrict access to the capital, while security personnel had been deployed at sensitive locations.

The new October 4 date means that security planning could remain relevant because the revised march is only about a week away.

Authorities may reassess road closures, container placement and the deployment of personnel as the new date approaches.

The exact response from the federal government will become clearer through official announcements in the coming days.

PTI says protest will remain peaceful

Another important element of Afridi and PTI's statements has been the emphasis on peaceful political protest.

PTI leaders previously instructed supporters not to bring weapons or other objects that could be used during clashes.

Geo News reported that PTI's KP leadership specifically warned workers against carrying sticks, slingshots or weapons during the planned mobilisation.

Afridi has also repeatedly framed PTI's political activity as a constitutional right to peaceful assembly.

This position is significant because tensions have increased around the planned march, with authorities preparing extensive security measures and political leaders exchanging strong statements.

Government criticism of PTI

The postponement has also triggered criticism from federal government figures.

Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar criticised PTI and Afridi after the postponement reports emerged.

According to UrduPoint, Tarar accused PTI of backing away from its previously announced march and challenged the party to proceed with its protest.

These are statements from a government political figure and represent the government's position in the ongoing dispute.

The political disagreement therefore continues even though the date of the march has changed.

What happens next?

The next major development will likely be PTI's detailed plan for October 4.

Questions remain about:

The exact starting time from Peshawar
The route toward Islamabad
The expected participation
Security arrangements
Road access and closures
The government's response
Whether negotiations will take place before October 4
Whether additional political parties will participate
What PTI's final demands will be

The coming days could therefore remain politically important.

For Islamabad residents, the most immediate concern is whether existing road restrictions will be relaxed following the postponement or whether authorities will maintain them because the march has simply been rescheduled.

A new political timeline for Pakistan

Sohail Afridi's announcement has effectively moved the PTI protest timeline from September 27 to October 4.

After several days of strong statements, mobilisation efforts and security preparations, PTI leadership has now changed the date of the planned march.

The announcement does not end the political dispute between PTI and the federal government.

Instead, it gives both sides another week before the next major mobilisation is expected.

Whether that week brings political dialogue, changes in security arrangements or further escalation in political rhetoric will be closely watched across Pakistan.

For now, October 4 has emerged as the next major date in PTI's Islamabad protest campaign, with Peshawar identified as the starting point.

PK-News.com will continue monitoring Sohail Afridi's statements, PTI's preparations, government decisions and developments surrounding Islamabad ahead of October 4.