PESHAWAR: The provincial chapter of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has asked its leaders, youth and students to make preparations for the next march on Islamabad for the release of incarcerated founder of the party Imran Khan, his spouse Bushra Bibi and other party workers.

The instructions to workers for making preparations for protest were issued by PTI leaders during ‘Janisaran-i-Imran Khan Convention’ here in Nishtar Hall.

The convention was addressed by absconding PTI leader and former federal minister Murad Saeed, Provincial Minister for Higher Education Meena Khan Afridi and the special assistant to chief minister for communication and works department, Sohail Afridi, and other party leaders.

PTI leaders reiterated their resolve to continue resisting the measures of state against the party and raise their voices for the release of imprisoned workers.

Absconding leader of party Murad Saeed addresses convention through video link

Addressing the convention through video link, Murad Saeed asked PTI leaders, youth and students to make preparations for next protest from today (Sunday).

“It’s my suggestion to student wing of party to start preparations in their respective educational institutions and convert these efforts into a student movement,” he said, adding that their movement for the release of Imran Khan entered a decisive phase.

Murad Saeed appreciated youth for playing important role in previous marches on Islamabad, especially in removing containers and other obstacles placed by the government on roads leading to the protest venue.

He said that in the previous protest march 10,000 youth were leading the procession. He said that for the next protest march they would need more, so they should start their work to prepare at least 5,000 youth from each district to lead the marchers.

Drawing attention of authorities at the helm of affairs, he said that they would adopt all options for a peaceful protest and that time they would definitely ‘feel the heat.’

He said that all ways were blocked for them including snatching their mandate in the previous general elections, stopping them from staging peaceful protest to raise their voice, violating sanctity of parliament and making the Constitution hostage.

“We will not stop speaking for our imprisoned workers,” he said, adding they were waiting for the call of Imran Khan and they would be on roads after his call.

Meena Khan Afridi said that the morale of party leadership and workers was high and they were ready for the next protest march. He said that they might go to Islamabad by foot if the vehicles were not available.

He demanded immediate release of all imprisoned workers including Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi and said that their destination would be Islamabad and no one would be able to hide from PTI workers.

He said that today (Sunday) was the start of the revolution. He said that they would mobilise youth in every district and area and ultimately march towards Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

Sohail Afridi said that Pashtuns would never forget the atrocities committed against PTI. He said that they were the followers of Imran Khan and anxiously waiting for his protest call.

Workers at the convention chanted slogans and said that they were waiting for Imran Khan’s order and whenever the order was given, they would move towards their destination.

Published in Dawn, April 7th, 2025