ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): The third day of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest long march towards Islamabad has commenced; however, questions have arisen regarding the noticeable drop in protest activity and the absence of leadership among the workers during the overnight halt in the Lachi area of Kohat.
The PTI convoy had arrived in Kohat from Karak the previous day, with plans to spend the night in Lachi. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi addressed the gathered workers, describing the protest as a long struggle and advising them to avoid excessive exhaustion. According to the party’s announced schedule, the convoy is set to depart from Kohat for Peshawar today.
However, sources indicate that the number of workers present at the protest site late at night was limited, and there was discussion among them regarding who would lead the next phase of the protest. Sources claim that the workers did not see the kind of prominent parliamentary leadership presence at the site that is typically expected during a major political protest.
According to sources, while some workers remained at the protest site overnight, several key party leaders and lawmakers were not seen among them.
This situation sparked speculation among the workers regarding the leadership’s conduct and the protest strategy. As per the PTI’s announced schedule, additional participants from Kohat, Hangu, Kurram, and Orakzai will join the convoy today, after which the march will proceed to Peshawar.
Following Peshawar, the plan is to take the convoy towards Charsadda and Khairabad, where an announcement regarding the next phase will be made on October 8.
A key question regarding the third day of the march is whether the PTI leadership will succeed in gathering large crowds during the Kohat and Peshawar legs, or if the situation of limited attendance seen last night will persist. This phase is politically significant because the party has announced that it will unveil its future course of action upon reaching Khairabad.
Meanwhile, traders in Peshawar have staged protests against the march, arguing that road closures and protest activities are disrupting business operations.
Thus, as the PTI’s long march moves from Kohat toward Peshawar on its third day, the issue of worker and parliamentary leadership presence during overnight halts has emerged as a critical political question for the party in the upcoming phase.
