The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) long march has entered its fifth day. The convoy arrived in Khyber district last night the native district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and is scheduled to depart for Peshawar today Thursday. Although the federal government held two rounds of negotiations with the PTI on October 2 and 3 over the postponement of the march, no agreement was reached. Consequently, the PTI launched the long march from Lakki Marwat on October 4 to press for several demands, including the release of Imran Khan.

From Lakki Marwat, the convoy traveled through Karak, Kohat, and Matani before reaching Khyber, where it stopped on the detour road. According to the initial plan, the convoy was supposed to travel directly from Kohat to Peshawar and halt near Matani. However, the PTI changed the route on Tuesday.Under the revised plan, the long march is expected to reach Kabootar Chowk on Peshawar-Charsadda Road by tonight. From there, it will proceed towards Charsadda, followed by Mardan, Swabi, and Malakand.

Meanwhile, several private and government schools in Peshawar have been partially closed ahead of the expected arrival of the long march. Sources in the Education Department said schools located along the march route have been closed due to security concerns, while schools outside the route remain open as usual.Addressing the march in Khyber last night, Sohail Afridi appealed to residents of his native area, urging them to “rise up before it is too late, seize this opportunity, come out... and usher in a revolution.”

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)