The rally aims to show the PTI founder can mobilize large-scale political activity, says Afridi
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder Imran Khan. Photo: File
ISLAMABAD:
On instructions from jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government plans to hold what its chief minister Sohail Afridi calls a “huge public rally” in Mardan next Sunday to show support for their leader and prove that the PTI founder still enjoys massive public support.
The KP Chief Minister said that the rally will be held at Mardan Railway Ground and called upon people and PTI supporters from across the country to participate.
Addressing the media in the federal capital on Monday, Afridi stated that the demonstration would aim to show the world that Imran Khan, even while in jail, can still mobilize large-scale political activity.
“We will prove through this meeting that despite all the repression, PTI remains Pakistan’s largest political party,” he added.
He said that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi had been unjustly jailed and that the PTI leadership had been facing continuous atrocities for years.
“On April 19, 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, especially “digital hooligans” on social media, were running negative propaganda to sabotage the event.
The announcement of the Mardan rally comes along with Imran Khan’s instructions not to hold any demonstrations or protests in Islamabad at this time. The party had earlier postponed its scheduled public meeting at Liaqat Bagh in Rawalpindi, which was originally scheduled for April 9.
These directives stemmed from Imran Khan’s meeting with lawyer Salman Safdar in Adiala jail on April 8.
During the meeting, the PTI founder directed the party to postpone the Rawalpindi rally in view of the sensitive US-Iran peace talks taking place in Islamabad and stressed support for Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts.
Safdar later said that 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 greater interest and national responsibility.
“All decisions regarding protests and public meetings will be taken as per Imran Khan’s directives,” he said, adding that Imran Khan had also led a major public gathering in KP for the next 10 days.
The decisions on both the Rawalpindi eviction and the Mardan rally have highlighted coordination challenges within the wider opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP).
TTAP leaders have expressed displeasure that the alliance was not formally consulted, often learning about PTI’s plans through media statements rather than direct briefings.
Akhunzada Hussain Ahmed Yousafzai, TTAP spokesperson, confirmed to The Express Pakinomist that the alliance had not been officially informed about the April 19 Mardan meeting so far.
“Because there is clear communication, rumors spread,” he said. Yousafzai added that there had been rumors that Imran Khan was unhappy with the opposition leaders in the Senate and the National Assembly.
He contacted PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja for clarification.
According to Yousafzai, Raja shared two points conveyed by Salman Safdar: First, that Imran Khan has complete confidence in the TTAP leadership; secondly, that any decision regarding rallies or political affairs should be taken under the leadership of Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir Abbas.
In this context, PTI General Secretary Salman Akram Raja issued a statement at X clarifying the party’s broader political strategy.
