Rally aims to show PTI founder can moblise large-scale political activity, says Afridi
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan. Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
On the directions of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government plans to hold what its Chief Minister Sohail Afridi calls “grand public rally” in Mardan coming Sunday to show support to their leader and prove the PTI founder leader still enjoys mass public support.
The K-P chief minister said the rally will be held at Mardan Railway Ground, urging people and PTI supporters from across the country to participate.
Addressing the media in the federal capital on Monday, Afridi stated that the rally would be aimed at showing the world that Imran Khan, even while in jail, can still mobilise large-scale political activity.
“We will prove through this rally that despite all oppression, PTI remains Pakistan’s largest political party,” he added.
He said Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi had been unjustly imprisoned and that the PTI leadership has faced continuous atrocities for years.
“On 19 April, we will send a message to Imran Khan in his absence that the nation still stands firmly with him,” Afridi said.
The chief minister urged all Pakistanis to participate in large numbers and warned that opponents, particularly “digital touts” on social media, were running negative propaganda to sabotage the event.
The Mardan rally announcement comes alongside Imran Khan’s instructions not to hold any rally or protest in Islamabad at present. The party had earlier postponed its planned public meeting at Liaqat Bagh in Rawalpindi which was originally scheduled for April 9.
Those directives originated from Imran Khan’s meeting with Barrister Salman Safdar at Adiala Jail on April 8.
During the meeting, the PTI founder directed the party to postpone the Rawalpindi gathering in view of the sensitive US-Iran peace talks taking place in Islamabad, emphasising support for Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts.
Safdar later said Imran Khan would personally announce any new date for future protests.
Afridi later in a press conference described the postponement as a decision taken in Pakistan’s larger interest and national responsibility.
“All decisions regarding protests and public meetings will be taken according to Imran Khan’s directives,” he said, adding that Imran Khan had also directed a major public gathering in K-P in next 10 days.
The decisions on both the Rawalpindi postponement and the Mardan rally have highlighted coordination challenges within the broader opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP).
TTAP leaders have expressed dissatisfaction that the alliance was not formally consulted and often learns of PTI’s plans through media statements rather than direct briefings.
Akhunzada Hussain Ahmed Yousafzai, TTAP spokesperson, confirmed to The Express Tribune that the alliance had not been officially informed about the April 19 Mardan rally so far.
“Because there is clear communication, rumours spread,” he said. Yousafzai added that there had been rumours of Imran Khan being dissatisfied with Senate and National Assembly opposition leaders.
He contacted PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja for clarification.
According to Yousafzai, Raja shared two points conveyed by Salman Safdar: first, that Imran Khan has complete trust in the TTAP leadership; second, that any decision regarding rallies or political matters should be taken under the guidance of Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
In this context, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja issued a statement on X clarifying the party’s broader political strategy.
