Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has formally launched a fundraising campaign for the October 4 Islamabad long march, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has personally stepped forward to lead the donation drive after the party failed to receive the expected financial support from important leaders, members of the assemblies and candidates for Senate elections. The party has also appealed to overseas Pakistanis for donations.
According to PTI sources, the party is facing a shortage of funds during preparations for the October 4 long march. Earlier, the provincial and central leadership had appealed to workers to participate in fundraising for the protest. However, sources said that due to a lack of interest from some important personalities, the campaign could not achieve its desired targets, following which Sohail Afridi took charge of the matter himself.
In a video message issued by the Chief Minister’s House, Sohail Afridi appealed to workers, particularly overseas Pakistanis, to donate generously for the October 4 long march. According to him, he will personally supervise the entire fundraising process.
Interestingly, during Ali Amin Gandapur’s tenure, which lasted nearly 20 months after the 2024 elections, no such public appeal for donations for PTI’s protest programmes was made. Ali Amin Gandapur has previously claimed that he sold his land to cover the expenses of protests. However, different claims regarding the expenses of protests during that period have also emerged from some important party leaders.
Several members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly told WE News that if Sohail Afridi assures them that the party will bear all expenses of workers participating in the protest, they may also consider providing financial support. However, under the current circumstances, assembly members themselves would have to bear the expenses of bringing workers from their constituencies, including their transportation and food costs, making it difficult for them to donate.
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Meanwhile, Ali Amin Gandapur has issued a statement saying, “I will personally bear the expenses of everyone who is part of my convoy. Vehicles were not available, so I also deposited a security amount of Rs1.5 million per vehicle. I have deposited security for transportation amounting to Rs30 million.”
