Leaders and activists of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) have begun a long march demanding the release of jailed party founder Imran Khan. The first leg, from Lakki Marwat to Swabi in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, began on Sunday, though no march on Islamabad has yet been announced.
Rana Sanaullah, an adviser to Pakistan’s prime minister, said the march would not be allowed into Islamabad under any circumstances, and warned that legal action would be taken against any attempt to disrupt law and order.
According to a statement from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, the first leg set off from Gandhi Chowk in Lakki Marwat at 1pm local time on Sunday, to be joined by party workers from Tank, Dera Ismail Khan, South and North Waziristan, Bannu and Lakki Marwat. The convoy was to stop overnight in Karak before heading towards Kohat, Peshawar and Charsadda.
The next steps will be announced on 8 October after PTI workers from across the province gather at Khairabad.
PTI announced in August a long march on Islamabad for 27 September to protest against its founder’s imprisonment, but a day or two before the date postponed it to 4 October. Long talks between the government and the opposition on Saturday to end the standoff produced no agreement.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report