PTI convoy heads towards Peshawar on third day of march for Khan's release

A Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) convoy led by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi headed from Kohat towards Peshawar on Tuesday, the third day of the PTI long march to Islamabad.

The party is demanding the release and medical treatment of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.

Where is the PTI long march headed?

The PTI plans to move towards Peshawar later on Tuesday and camp at Mattani on Wednesday night. Convoys from Hangu, Kurram and Orakzai districts joined the main group in Kohat.

The party has said the wider convoy could take at least a week to reach the capital.

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What did Sohail Afridi say in Kohat?

Addressing PTI workers at College Chowk in Kohat, Afridi said the party had published its draft demands on social media and would withdraw them if any were found to be unconstitutional or illegal. He said his provincial government had exhausted all "democratic, constitutional and legal" avenues before taking to the streets.

Afridi added that he had repeatedly sought a meeting with Khan but had been unable to see the former prime minister in jail. He also alleged that three Supreme Court judges had ordered Khan to receive treatment at Shifa International Hospital, but that the directive had not been implemented.

"If justice is not delivered by the courts, the people will seek justice on the streets," he said.

What did Afridi say about security and Islamabad?

Afridi criticised the federal government's approach to combating militancy, saying "22 years of operations and drone strikes" had failed to end violence in the northwestern province. He said his government had a policy that could restore peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within 100 days.

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He also warned the federal government against trying to prevent a future PTI march on Islamabad. "When we decide to go to Islamabad, no one will be able to stop us," he said.

The chief minister said the campaign's ultimate goal was to secure Khan's release and enable him to return as prime minister, which he said would bring "development and prosperity" to Pakistan.

Why did the PTI launch the long march?

The PTI launched the march from southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Oct. 4 after talks with the federal government collapsed. The party is demanding Khan's release as well as access to medical treatment, while the government has so far resisted its demands.

Before the march began, Afridi unveiled a charter calling for political dialogue and legal, medical and visitation rights for Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. It also called for greater coordination between the federal and provincial governments to address militancy.

The convoy initially planned to pass through Lakki Marwat, Karak, Kohat, Peshawar and Charsadda before heading towards Nowshera or Swabi, with PTI supporters expected to join along the route.