PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa information minister Shafi Jan on Thursday said that the PTI’s Sept 27 plan for a long march on Islamabad was unchanged.

He, however, said that his party was committed to negotiations and political dialogue.

“We [PTI] are open to dialogue but there won’t be any change in the September 27 long march plan unless there is tangible and credible progress on our core demands,” he said in a statement.

Minister Jan said the PTI had set out two principal demands, including the fixing of cases against its incarcerated founder, Imran Khan, for hearing and their adjudication strictly in accordance with the law and the principles of justice, as well as his transfer to a health facility, in view of his health condition, where he could receive appropriate care in the presence of his family members and personal physicians.

He said the Supreme Court’s decision regarding Imran’s transfer to a private hospital constituted clear progress on the second demand and that the court’s orders must be implemented in letter and spirit without delay.

The minister voiced concern over a delay in that order’s implementation by the federal government.

He said that for the PTI, nothing was more important than its founder’s health, so the matter should not be reduced to a political controversy.

“The government should have decided about Imran Khan’s transfer to the hospital on humanitarian and moral grounds in the first place. With a clear judicial order now in force, the government is responsible for its implementation,” he said.

Mr Jan said the Sept 27 plan wasn’t meant for confrontation but to secure constitutional, legal and political rights. He said the plan would remain there and preparations for the long march would continue until the PTI’s demands were met.

He said his party had not issued any formal call for a movement since Nov 26, yet restrictions on political activities had continued to intensify instead of easing.

The minister said his jailed leader had remained in isolation for a long period and that his sister had been able to meet him only after approximately 265 days.

He said that whenever the PTI’s political movement gained momentum or a date was announced, the PM Shehbaz Sharif government began talking about negotiations.

“Our position is clear: negotiations should take place but they should not be used merely to buy time. What is required is serious, clear and workable progress on our demands,” he said. Mr Jan said KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was personally overseeing the entire matter and would visit Hangu on Saturday and Buner on Sunday as part of the street movement.

He said the chief minister would later go to other parts of the province, while consultations with allied parties would continue regarding a broader political outreach campaign in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan.

The minister categorically rejected speculation circulating on social media regarding a possible deal with the federal government. “There’s no deal, backchannel contact [with the federal government] or intention to enter into any secret arrangement,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 21st, 2026