The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) march is set to move towards Charsadda on Friday, October 9, after spending Thursday night at several locations in Peshawar. The caravan began on Sunday, October 4, and has continued its journey through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The marchers reached Peshawar after leaving Khyber district on Thursday. Participants stayed at different locations across the city, where mobile phone and internet services remained suspended in many areas.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi arrived separately at Kabootar Chowk around midnight. He addressed the gathering before leaving, while party workers remained at the location.

According to the announced schedule, the convoy is expected to reach Shabqadar around noon on Friday. It is then scheduled to arrive in Charsadda at 5pm, where participants will stay overnight.

Afridi is expected to address a rally at Farooq-e-Azam Chowk in Charsadda at 2pm on Saturday.

PTI March Sees Limited Local Participation

Reports indicate that participation from Peshawar residents remained relatively low. Around 500 local people reportedly joined the gathering, while most participants had travelled from southern districts.

An estimated 3,000 to 4,000 workers accompanied the convoy from those areas. The gathering did not turn into a major rally, partly because the venue was small.

The party has also revised its plans for the march. The convoy is now expected to travel through Charsadda and Mardan before reaching Swabi.

The party is expected to decide its next course of action after reaching Swabi. According to the revised schedule, the convoy may arrive there around October 12.

Mobile and Internet Services Remain Suspended

Mobile phone signals have reportedly been suspended along several sections of the march’s route. The disruptions began when the convoy reached Mattani from Kohat, followed by areas in Khyber and Peshawar.

Services have remained unavailable across much of Peshawar for three days. The cantonment area has reportedly continued receiving mobile coverage, while many other areas remain without phone or internet access.

Residents have expressed concern about the disruption. It remains unclear when services will return to normal, although coverage may improve after the convoy leaves the city.

Schools that remained closed on Thursday reopened on Friday.

PTI Says It Remains Open to Negotiations

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has said the party remains willing to hold meaningful talks with the federal government. He said negotiations should proceed without preconditions.

Gohar also opposed imposing governor’s rule or an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He urged political leaders to exercise restraint and resolve disagreements through dialogue.

He defended Chief Minister Sohail Afridi against allegations concerning support for terrorists. Gohar said the PTI stands with the state against terrorism.

He also expressed hope that JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman could help facilitate negotiations. He thanked political parties that opposed governor’s rule.

The statements followed the collapse of talks between the government and PTI early on October 4. The discussions reportedly broke down over access to PTI founder Imran Khan and cooperation on counterterrorism.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi blamed Afridi for the failure of negotiations. The PTI rejected that account.

Court to Hear Petition Against Afridi’s Appointment

The Federal Constitutional Court has scheduled a petition challenging Afridi’s appointment as chief minister for October 15.

The petition was filed by MNA and lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat. It seeks to declare Afridi’s election unconstitutional and restore former chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

Marwat argues that Gandapur’s resignation was not voluntary. He claims it was submitted under instructions from PTI founder Imran Khan.

The petitioner has also questioned whether the governor formally accepted Gandapur’s resignation. He has asked the court to overturn related actions and restore the previous chief minister.

These claims remain arguments presented by the petitioner. The court has not issued a final ruling on the case.

Political Tensions Continue During the March

The PTI march is taking place amid broader political disagreements in the province. One dispute concerns a security meeting convened by Governor Faisal Karim Kundi with senior provincial officials.

Afridi criticised the governor’s role in the meeting, describing it as unconstitutional. The disagreement has added to tensions between the provincial government and the governor.

As the convoy continues towards Charsadda, attention remains focused on its route, public participation, service disruptions, and the possibility of renewed political dialogue.

In other news read more about: PTI Announces Sindh-Wide Protest March for Founding Chairman’s Release