MARDAN: The leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) said here on Sunday that the party’s planned protest and long march on Sept 27 was aimed not only at securing release of Imran Khan but also at restoring democracy and ensuring supremacy of Constitution and rule of law.
Speaking at a press conference, PTI leaders Haris Touro, Shahid Anwar, Riazur Rehman, Insaf Lawyers Forum (ILF) president Advocate Sajjad Ahmed, Bakhtshad Khan and others said that the country was facing a severe political and economic crisis.
They claimed that some members of the ruling elite had themselves acknowledged that the existing system had failed and the country was confronted with serious challenges.
PTI leaders termed PTI founder and former prime minister Imran Khan a symbol of national unity and claimed that he was capable of leading the country out of the current crisis. They alleged that the electoral process was undermined and constitutional and legal institutions were weakened.
They also accused the PML-N government of wasting public funds on what they termed unnecessary expenditures, including the purchase of aircraft worth billions of rupees from the national exchequer.
Referring to recent youth-led protests in India, the PTI leaders said that young people could play an important role in bringing about political change. They urged political parties and people to join what they described a peaceful movement for the protection of Pakistan.
On the occasion, Mr Harris Khan Toru announced that a public meeting would be held in Toru, Mardan, on Sept 18. He said that PTI provincial president Junaid Akbar and other central and provincial leaders would address the gathering.
He claimed that preparations for the Sept 27 long march had been completed and PTI workers and supporters across the country were showing enthusiasm for the campaign.
According to Mr Touro, the movement seeks to address political, economic and constitutional crises being faced by the country and strengthen democracy and the rule of law.
Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2026
