KP CM Afridi meets NA, Senate opposition leaders to discuss Sept 27 protest

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Saturday met with the National Assembly and Senate opposition leaders to discuss the PTI’s upcoming nationwide protest planned for September 27. The PTI has called for a nationwide protest, including a “long march” to Islamabad, on September 27 to demand the release of party founder Imran Khan and mobilise people for the supremacy of the Constitution. The Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan (TTAP) opposition alliance, headed by NA Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, assured the PTI of its support for the protest during a meeting on Friday. In a post on X on Saturday, TTAP said the KP CM held an “important meeting” with Achakzai and Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas. The alliance’s spokesperson, Hussain Ahmed Yousafzai, was also present. “Detailed political consultations regarding the call for September 27 were held during the meeting, and various aspects of the future course of action, political strategy, and advancing the democratic struggle in an effective manner were discussed,” the statement said. The politicians consulted on taking forward the protest call as an “effective and organised political struggle for upholding the supremacy of the Constitution, democratic rights, provincial rights, and the protection of the public mandate”.

The trio had also met on Thursday, shortly after CM Afridi concluded his visit to Punjab, to discuss plans for the September 27 protest. In response to a petition challenging the planned PTI gatherings, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) termed any activity resulting in infringement of citizens’ fundamental rights as a violation of the Constitution. In his plea, citizen Waqas Ahmed had challenged the planned protest on the grounds that the protest could disrupt routine life, traffic and business activities in the federal capital. Subsequently, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi affirmed on Friday that the government would stop anyone from marching towards the federal capital “in every possible way”. He further warned of contempt of court proceedings against those who violated the IHC ruling.

The administrations of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad had already begun preparations last week to counter the PTI’s announced march to the capital, including a request for the detention of activists, arranging containers, seeking additional personnel and procuring anti-riot gear. As part of the PTI’s preparations, the KP CM toured Sindh and Punjab to mobilise supporters for the protest. During his visit to the PML-N-led Punjab, Afridi not only alleged he was “abducted” by authorities in Lahore and later “thrown” by the roadside, but also claimed a man was sent to kill him. The Punjab government had swiftly refuted the claims of arrest, while the Wazirabad police clarified that the man accused by Afridi was a police constable deployed on security duty for the KP CM.