Differences over the date of the long march in PTI have increased

ISLAMABAD – Internal differences have become evident in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) over the call for a long march to Islamabad on September 27. Questions have been raised by various quarters of the party on the date and strategy of the march.

Some PTI leaders abroad have expressed reservations over the date set by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi for September 27. These leaders allege that the decision to move the long march to September instead of mid-August is the result of some hidden understanding.

Sohail Afridi has rejected these allegations. Speaking on a TV programme, the Chief Minister said that the claims made against him are baseless.

He also reacted to the allegations made by former Special Assistant Shahbaz Gul. Sohail Afridi said that he expects Shahbaz Gul to apologise for his statement soon.

The Chief Minister also mentioned the reservations of Aleema Khan, sister of the party’s founding chairman. He said that he would try to take Aleema Khan into confidence and convince her on the issue of the long march.

Earlier, Sohail Afridi, in a conversation with PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, had stressed the need to continue political resistance against the government.

According to the Chief Minister, the party leadership is trying to meet the founding chairman, but they are not getting permission to meet. He said that the founder’s family and lawyers are ready to guarantee that no press conference will be held during the meeting.

Salman Akram Raja said on this occasion that the health of the founding chairman is the most important issue for the party. According to him, there is no intention to stop the political process that is being started.

The PTI Secretary General also expressed displeasure over the absence of party workers and leaders in the Islamabad High Court. He said that the names of those who did not reach the court on the appointed occasion will be brought to light.

Salman Akram Raja, referring to a previous protest on August 5, also said that the party is aware of the people who were absent on that occasion.

On the other hand, security arrangements were also increased outside the Islamabad High Court in view of the possible protest by the PTI. According to reports, vehicles used to transfer prisoners reached outside the court, while additional personnel from the Punjab and Islamabad police were also present.

The current situation in the PTI shows that on the one hand, the party has to decide on a protest strategy against the government, while on the other hand, creating a consensus within the leadership on the date of the march and the political course of action is also a major challenge.

The proposed call for September 27 is no longer a mere protest activity for the party. With this, the question of the party’s internal unity, mutual trust of the leadership and future political strategy has also been linked.