The PTI is considering formulating an all-party conference plan for the Islamabad march on October 5-10.
ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is considering a major change to its planned September 27 long march to Islamabad, with senior leaders reportedly pushing to postpone the protest to October 5-10 amid an unprecedented security lockdown across the capital.
The proposed change could reshape the party’s entire mobilization strategy as key entry points to Islamabad have been sealed off, major highways have been blocked and hundreds of PTI activists and supporters have reportedly been arrested or detained.
The idea to postpone the long march came during a PTI leadership meeting attended by senior figures including Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Asad Qaiser, Salman Akram Raja and Junaid Akbar. According to discussions within the party, the majority of leaders favored moving the central movement to early October instead of pushing ahead with the September 27 schedule under the current security situation.
The September 27 plan has not been officially canceled, but its future now appears to be under active review. PTI leaders assessed whether going ahead with the original date would allow the party to mobilize effectively or whether the delay would give workers additional time to reorganize, build political contacts and prepare for a prolonged protest.
The leadership also discussed the possibility of using October 5-10 as a new window for a central movement in Islamabad.
The proposed change would go hand in hand with other political activities already being considered by the party, including a possible all-party conference between October 6 and 10.
The security situation in and around Islamabad has emerged as a major factor behind the proposed change. Major roads have been closed, routes from KP have been restricted and heavy police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Attock.
During their meeting, PTI leaders reportedly reviewed the scale of the measures and discussed how the restrictions could affect the movement of large convoys towards the capital. The party has also faced arrests and detentions, while restrictions on vehicles and machinery have created additional logistical difficulties.
The proposed postponement is not being discussed as a mere change of date. The PTI leadership has also looked at increasing its political engagement with opposition parties, including continued engagement with the JUI-F and the PPP.
APC is among the options under consideration between October 6 and 10. This will give the party additional time to coordinate its political strategy while preparations for mass mobilization continue. The leadership also reviewed the PTI’s organizational position in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan, while discussions also included concerns about the role of Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Raja Nasir Abbas.
The meeting also covered the developments in PTI founder Imran Khan’s jail. Party leaders reportedly discussed shifting her to hospital and possible perks for Bushra Bibi. The release of Imran Khan is one of the central demands of PTI along with demands for constitutional supremacy and other political objectives.
Despite the possibility of postponement, PTI continues preparations for September 27. KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi is expected to play the lead role, with KP acting as the main launching point.
The PTI and allied groups, including Tehreek-e-Takhuf Ain Pakistan (TTAP), have earlier hinted that the movement could become a phased and multi-day campaign.
A number of dynamic models have already been considered. An earlier plan involved joining a large KP convoy with groups from southern Punjab and other regions, with protesters possibly staying at the Punjab-KP border for two to three days before moving towards Islamabad.
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The post PTI’s consideration of the all-party conference plan for the Islamabad march on October 5-10 appeared first on Daily Pakistan English News.
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