K-P CM Afridi vows Sept 27 long march for Imran’s release, rejects power as party’s goal
PESHAWAR:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Friday declared that no power, wealth or throne could divert the party from the vision of founding chairman Imran Khan, stressing that government seats were never the goal.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony of a mega tree plantation campaign at Spin Khak in district Nowshera, the chief minister announced that on September 27 the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would march to Islamabad with two million people. He formally launched the drive by planting a sapling. Provincial Health Minister Khaliqur Rahman, Special Assistant on Forests Pir Masoor Ghazi and other members of the provincial assembly were also present.
Afridi said a target of planting 1.4 million saplings across the province in a single day had been set, but the Forest Department’s efforts resulted in 1.7 million plants being put in the ground. He praised the department’s performance and noted that the provincial government was spending public funds on projects whose benefits would reach future generations. Local residents of Garhi Chandan had already received Rs70 million from forest-related income, he added.
In view of recent sudden floods and cloudbursts, the chief minister directed that the tree plantation campaign be expanded to every corner of the province. He also instructed the Forest Department to establish tourist huts in all forest areas and called for attracting foreign tourists by having each one plant a sapling in their own name.
Afridi reiterated that PTI’s foremost priority remained public welfare and that the party was simultaneously pursuing political struggle and projects for coming generations. All current initiatives of the K-P government, he said, stemmed from the vision and concept presented by Imran Khan. “We joined PTI for the rule of law and the supremacy of the Constitution, and the struggle will continue until the goal is achieved,” he stated, urging the people of Spin Khak to participate fully in the September 27 public gathering.
