Speaking to Hamid Mir on Geo News’ programme Capital Talk, Afridi said the date had been finalised through consultations among the party’s provincial and central leadership as well as the allied group.

“All our political leadership, the provincial leadership of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf across all provinces, and central [leadership], along with the alliance too, Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan — yes, all of them are on board,” he said.

Afridi was responding to concerns reportedly raised by Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, over why the long march had been scheduled for September 27 rather than an earlier date.

Describing Aleema Khan as “non-political”, Afridi said she was speaking in her capacity as Imran Khan’s sister and expressed confidence that she would be satisfied once the reasons behind the decision were explained to her.

“Aleema apa is Imran Khan sahib’s sister, and we repeatedly say that she is non-political; she has nothing to do with politics,” he said. “We will, God willing, satisfy her.”

Afridi rejects allegations of secret deal

The KP chief minister also rejected allegations by overseas PTI leaders that he had agreed to the September 27 date as part of a secret deal.

He said those making such claims should have contacted him for clarification before raising the matter publicly.

“This is an attempt to mislead people, and this should not happen,” Afridi said, urging those who were sincere with Imran Khan and PTI to avoid making such allegations without first verifying the facts.

Responding to a specific allegation that he had met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and another official on August 4 before announcing the date of the long march, Afridi termed the claim “completely baseless”.

He said he had been at the KP House in Islamabad from noon until 4:30pm that day, attending meetings related to the province’s Pado KP and telemedicine initiatives.

“From 12:00 until 4:30pm, those meetings were right here at the KP House,” he said.

When asked whether the alleged meeting had taken place in Peshawar, Afridi again denied the claim, saying he was in Islamabad at the time.

“No, I was at the KP House in Islamabad,” he said, describing the allegation as “sheer” and baseless.

PTI calls long march ‘last option’

A day earlier, PTI leader Shafi Jan had said the party had no option left but to launch a long march, with the ultimate objective of securing the release of Imran Khan.

Speaking on Geo News’ programme Naya Pakistan, Jan said PTI workers were protesting because “nobody is listening to us” and described the long march as the party’s “last option”.

“We will leave Peshawar with two million people,” he said, adding that the impact of the march would be felt across the country.

Imran Khan, 73, has remained in prison since August 2023 following convictions that he and his party describe as politically motivated.

Since his ouster as prime minister through a no-confidence vote in April 2022, he has faced multiple legal cases, including those related to state gifts and an unlawful marriage.

While some convictions have been suspended or overturned, several appeals remain pending before higher courts. Imran Khan and PTI continue to deny all allegations of wrongdoing.