Speaking exclusively to Pakistan Matters correspondent Asim Irshad, Shafi Jan said a convoy would leave Peshawar for Islamabad on September 27 under the leadership of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi, while a large number of workers from Punjab, Sindh and other regions would also participate in the march.
He claimed that the September 27 protest would be the biggest long march in Pakistan’s history.
Shafi Jan said the PTI would divide and engage its opponents and insisted that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa convoy would enter Islamabad at all costs.
Asked about the possibility of negotiations with the government and the demand for Imran Khan’s release, he said the time for negotiations had passed and preparations for the long march were complete.
He said contempt of court proceedings were also scheduled for September 16, while the PTI had two basic demands concerning Imran Khan’s transfer and his cases. He said the party was now waiting for the Supreme Court’s decision and hoped the court would decide the matter on the basis of justice.
Shafi Jan described the matter as a test case for the Supreme Court and said the party would present all its concerns before the court.
Referring to the November 26 protest, he said PTI workers were political workers, not military personnel, and had faced state action. He claimed that protesters were directly fired upon on November 26 and said PTI workers would continue to stand in front of bullets.
He added that during the sit-in following the long march, the leaders who would lead the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa convoy would remain present until the last person.
Responding to a question about his strong remarks against Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari, Shafi Jan said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had made major sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.
He claimed that the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had lost thousands of lives and suffered billions of dollars in economic losses during the war against terrorism.
Shafi Jan said that if Azma Bukhari apologised for her remarks about Bushra Bibi and Aleema Khan, he would also be willing to withdraw his own words.
Commenting on Jamaat-e-Islami’s protests and sit-ins against the petroleum levy, Shafi Jan said PTI would engage with every political force seeking to get rid of the current government.
He said the party’s doors were open to everyone and claimed that PTI was in contact with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Jamaat-e-Islami, religious parties and other political forces.
Shafi Jan also said PTI was in contact with Maulana Fazlur Rehman. He said an opposition alliance had already been formed inside parliament and now needed to be mobilised on the streets as well.
He claimed that the government was on its way out and that its days were numbered.
