ISLAMABAD — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf information secretary Shaukat Yousafzai has urged the party leadership to immediately suspend its planned long march, citing heightened security threats, rising terrorism and the risk of a confrontation with the state.
In a letter addressed to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and other party leaders, Mr. Yousafzai said the protest should be deferred in what he described as the broader national interest. He cited external security threats and a possible increase in militant violence as reasons for reconsidering the timing of the march.
Mr. Yousafzai also warned that the federal government could use the prevailing security situation to justify imposing emergency measures. Rather than escalating tensions with the state, he called for political negotiations, saying a possible attack from Afghanistan could provide the government with grounds for such action.
The PTI leader further argued that the federal government was building a narrative that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was failing to cooperate with Islamabad. He cautioned that this could lead to efforts to remove the provincial government and that the party could face restrictions if it were accused of supporting terrorism.
Mr. Yousafzai also referred to previous instances in which PTI founder Imran Khan had called off long marches over concerns for the safety of party workers.
He urged the party leadership to consider his concerns seriously and suspend the planned protest, arguing that dialogue would provide a path to address the political dispute without further confrontation.
