PTI convoy leaves Peshawar’s outskirts for Khairabad as the defence minister calls governor’s rule a possible last resort
Afridi’s schedule had the PTI caravans leave the Budhni area of Peshawar about 12:30pm on Wednesday 7 October and gather at Khairabad on Thursday 8 October, where he plans to announce the next course of action (Minute Mirror, Asia News Network). The convoy had camped at Mattani on Tuesday night and was due to visit Khyber first (Dawn). On Wednesday Dawn reported the defence minister criticising the chief minister for focusing on the march, and Minute Mirror reported him saying governor’s rule could be imposed if nothing else remained.
Thursday is the first decision point since the talks collapsed. The announcement will show whether PTI escalates towards Islamabad or negotiates.
Expect diversions near Peshawar and the Indus crossing at Attock.
PTI says it is on a peaceful constitutional march.
The government says it will not allow gatherings in the capital and warns of emergency measures.
Treat everything before Thursday afternoon as positioning. The decisive word will be Afridi’s, and the second one will be the Centre’s reply.
DailyDrop Pakistan edition No. 4 · Morning · THU., OCT. 8, 2026