Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf senior leader and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Secretary Shaukat Yousafzai became emotional on Wednesday while responding to harsh allegations against him. He had suggested delaying the party’s planned long march to Islamabad on October 4, and this simple advice led to accusations that questioned his loyalty.
Speaking on Geo News programme Geo Pakistan, Yousafzai explained that as a senior member he only raised a genuine concern. He feared that court orders or claims linking the party to terrorists could be used against workers if the protest went ahead in the current atmosphere. In a letter to PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar and other leaders, he had urged postponement in the larger national interest due to rising terrorist activity and security risks.
However, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi firmly rejected any delay. He declared that the October 4 long march would take place under all circumstances. Afridi even said that if Yousafzai’s letter reached him, he would throw it in the dustbin, while adding that the letter had not yet arrived.
Yousafzai said these words from Afridi deeply hurt him. “I was not expecting that from Sohail Afridi. He is my younger brother,” he stated. He reminded everyone that when Afridi first announced the march date, Yousafzai had publicly promised to be among the first participants.
Instead of appreciation for his caution, Yousafzai was branded a traitor on social media. He expressed regret over the abuse that followed and said it pained him that his lifelong dedication to PTI was suddenly doubted. He recalled the hardships party leaders and workers faced after the May 9, 2023 events and stressed that such accusations cut deep.
Yousafzai clarified that he only offered a suggestion to protect workers’ safety, yet some people suspected he had been “bought off.” He firmly rejected any idea of leaving the party, saying there was absolutely no question of him walking away from PTI. He also criticised certain social media activists for causing internal damage rather than supporting the party’s cause.
Throughout his emotional remarks, Yousafzai maintained that his only intention was the safety of workers and the wider national interest. He once again stood by Chief Minister Afridi, repeating that the young leader is not a facilitator of terrorists. His visible pain highlighted the growing internal tensions within PTI as the October 4 long march approaches amid a tense political climate.
