Arranging Vehicles for Public Gatherings is Not Difficult: Akbar

PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Junaid Akbar has announced that the party will hold a public rally in Swabi on February 8 on the directives of its incarcerated founder, Imran Khan.

The day marks the first anniversary of the last general elections, which PTI claims were rigged, resulting in the alleged theft of its mandate.

“A public rally will be held in Swabi on February 8 on the PTI founder’s call,” Akbar said in a statement. He was recently appointed as PTI’s provincial president, replacing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.

This development comes as PTI has also sought permission to hold a public gathering in Peshawar on February 8, which it plans to observe as a “Black Day.”

PTI leader Aliya Hamza submitted an application to the deputy commissioner’s office, requesting approval for a public gathering at Minar-e-Pakistan ground, also known as Iqbal Park, next month.

The opposition party’s return to street politics follows its failed negotiations with the government. PTI refused to attend the fourth round of talks on January 28, citing the government’s failure to form a judicial commission to probe the May 9 riots and the November 2024 protests, as per its charter of demands.

The dialogue between the PML-N-led government and PTI began in late December after months of heightened political tensions.

Despite PTI presenting a written charter of demands and engaging in three rounds of negotiations, little progress was made on key matters.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Akbar, who also serves as the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), has warned of potential agitation against the ruling coalition. He stated that the party’s willingness to engage in dialogue was misinterpreted as weakness.

Speaking on Geo News’ “Capital Talk,” he remarked that PTI might once again escalate political tensions by shifting to an “agitation mode.” He also hinted at major reshuffling within the party’s leadership, with “hardliners” expected to be appointed to key positions.

Discussing the party’s protest strategy, the PTI KP president stated that instead of relying on the chief minister, workers should arrange funds themselves.

“The public gathering and the workers both belong to the party, so we have to make the [financial] contribution,” he said.

“There are more than 70 village councils under the administration of each MNA. Arranging vehicles for a public gathering is not difficult.”

“We will change some things and procedures now,” he added while backing CM Gandapur, saying that the province’s chief executive “has always supported every worker and every party wing.”