Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has announced that the September 27 protest will be held after comprehensive consultation with the party leadership and workers, saying he will personally lead the demonstration.

Speaking during a meeting with digital media journalists, Afridi claimed that at least two million people would participate in the protest. He said he had received no offer for negotiations and was instead facing threats.

“If I am disqualified or arrested, someone else will take up this flag. If that person is also arrested, the flag will pass into another hand,” Afridi said.

The chief minister said he had recorded videos containing instructions for the party to follow in the event of his arrest.

He also expressed concern over reports regarding the health of PTI founder Imran Khan, saying an emergency meeting of the party leadership had been called for tonight. He added that thife issue concerning Imran Khan’s health became serious, an emergency call could be announced.

Afridi said that even in the event of an emergency call, the September 27 long march would continue as planned. He maintained that the entire leadership was united in the view that there was no option left except resistance.

He said the protest would not be limited to one day or one location. The movement, according to Afridi, would remain peaceful, stressing that the party did not want Imran Khan’s release through armed groups.

“Our first objective is Imran Khan’s release through legal means,” he said, adding that restoration of meetings with the PTI founder was the second major demand.

Afridi stated that the protest would continue until both demands were accepted. He rejected the presence of armed individuals in the party’s ranks, saying anyone attempting to introduce weapons into the movement would be handed over to the law.

He further said that the next course of action during the march would be announced after receiving a message from Imran Khan.

Afridi announced that he would begin a street movement from his constituency this week and mobilize people from Khyber to Karachi, adding that Punjab would also have to participate in the movement.

He also claimed that reports aired on Geo News regarding his interview the previous day were incorrectly reported.

According to Afridi, the primary objective of the September 27 march is to secure Imran Khan’s release through legal and constitutional means.