The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) commenced its march toward Islamabad from Gandi Chowk in Lakki Marwat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, led by KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday. KP CM Afridi stated that the party will decide its next move once the convoy reaches Khairabad.
The launch followed the breakdown of three rounds of talks between PTI and a delegation from the government and Pakistan Peoples Party on Sunday morning. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that talks collapsed and blamed the KP CM for sabotaging them, while PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja claimed negotiations failed due to the federal government's insistence that the provincial government own unilaterally initiated anti-terrorism actions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Party workers from Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Dera Ismail Khan, and surrounding districts gathered ahead of the march under heavy police security. Afridi traveled from Peshawar to Lakki Marwat to lead the convoy, accompanied by PTI leaders including Junaid Akbar.
The convoy will camp near Karak on Sunday night before participants from Karak join on Monday, with the march subsequently moving toward Kohat, Peshawar, and Charsadda. The PTI stated the march aims to demand the release of party founder Imran Khan and seek the supremacy of law and the Constitution.
The government maintained it will not allow PTI to resort to violence or storm the federal capital. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi warned that all sit-in participants would face a complete legal process and trial if they violated the law, stating that authorities would not spare anyone who violates the law.