ISLAMABAD:…Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to postpone its September 27 long march towards Islamabad to October 4. However, this decision is unlikely to end the underlying political deadlock, as informed sources say that simply changing the date will not provide the political scope or relief that the party is looking for. Meanwhile, the political position of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has also become a question mark due to the growing tension around the protest strategy. A source familiar with the situation told this correspondent that Sohail Afridi’s position as Chief Minister is now considered to be under serious threat. Postponing the long march may have changed history, but the underlying issue between the PTI and the authorities has not changed. The top leadership of PTI has also admitted this. According to party sources, a message has been given to the PTI leadership that postponing the march and setting a new date will not automatically resolve the issue. Sources said that if the PTI wants to regain political momentum and expect any meaningful relief through political contacts, it will have to rethink its broader approach to achieving its political goals, particularly the repeated long marches, road blockades and attempts to shut down the federal capital. According to the sources, the issue is no longer about 27th September or 4th October, but the real issue is the politics of repeated protest gatherings and road closures. PTI’s political committee on Friday decided to postpone the September 27 long march to October 4. It has been reported that the long march will depart from Peshawar on October 4. This decision came after several days of intensive preparations and large-scale security arrangements by the federal and Punjab governments. Rangers have been deployed in several districts of Islamabad and Punjab, while major roads have been blocked or restricted ahead of the proposed protest gathering. Interestingly, the decision to postpone the long march came when PTI leaders, including Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, had publicly insisted a few hours earlier that the march would take place despite road closures and other measures taken by the government. Sohail Afridi had said that the protest will be peaceful and the constitutional right of assembly cannot be denied. The sudden decision has further fueled PTI’s internal debate, with a faction of the party leadership favoring continued street protests, while some senior leaders have called for a more cautious political strategy. According to party sources, some senior leaders had earlier warned that tensions should not be allowed to reach the current level, but their advice was not given the heed they had hoped for. The situation is particularly difficult in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the PTI is in power. Party sources say that it is becoming difficult for the provincial government to exercise administrative powers regarding the proposed protest activities. According to these sources, neither the police nor the district administration is following the instructions of the provincial government in the manner expected by the PTI leadership. PTI circles also claim that the police have raided the residences of some provincial ministers, while some PTI leaders and provincial assembly members have also been detained in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to party sources, the result of this situation is that despite having a government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the feeling of political and administrative helplessness is increasing within the provincial government.