Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Secretary Shaukat Yousafzai became emotional during a television programme on Wednesday while discussing criticism he faced after urging the party to further postpone its October 4 long march towards Islamabad.
Speaking on Geo News programme Geo Pakistan, Yousafzai said he had raised concerns about the safety of PTI workers and the possibility that the security situation could be used against the party.
“As a senior member, I voiced a concern that the court order or allegations that the PTI was bringing terrorists could be used for an action,” he said.
Yousafzai says he was hurt by Afridi’s remarks
Yousafzai had written to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan and other party leaders urging them to further delay the march, citing security concerns and what he described as the risk of emergency rule.
He argued that the march should be postponed in the wider national interest amid increased terrorist activity and concerns over the security situation. He also warned that certain developments could potentially be used as a pretext for action against the KP government and PTI.
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, however, reaffirmed that the October 4 march would go ahead. According to reports, Afridi said he would throw Yousafzai’s letter in the dustbin if it reached him and said the letter had not been received.
Yousafzai said Afridi’s response had deeply hurt him.
“I was not expecting that from Sohail Afridi. He is my younger brother,” he said.
The PTI leader recalled that when Afridi announced the October 4 march, he had made clear that he would be among the first participants.
KP CM Sohail Afridi offers talks to federal government after PTI delays Islamabad march
‘My loyalty to PTI was called into question’
Yousafzai said his suggestion about delaying the protest led to accusations that he was a “traitor” and had been “bought off”.
“I regret the abuse that followed on social media. I regret that my lifelong dedication to PTI was called into question,” he said while visibly emotional.
He also recalled the difficulties faced by PTI leaders and workers following the May 9, 2023 riots, saying such accusations were particularly painful given the hardships party members had endured.
Yousafzai said his intention was only to raise concerns about workers’ safety and suggest a delay in light of the prevailing circumstances.
Yousafzai defends Afridi
Despite his disagreement with Afridi over the timing of the march, Yousafzai said he had previously defended the KP chief minister and rejected suggestions that Afridi was facilitating terrorists.
He also criticised social media activists within the party, saying their actions and comments were damaging PTI.
PTI had originally planned the long march for September 27 but later postponed it to October 4. The party has continued to maintain that the march will proceed on the revised date.
Yousafzai also rejected any suggestion that he intended to leave PTI.
“There is no question of me leaving the party,” he said.
