Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI) and Tehreek‑e‑Tahafuz‑e‑Ayeen‑e‑Pakistan (TTAP) held a jalsa at the Hayatabad Sports Complex in Peshawar on Sunday, attracting party supporters from the provincial capital and nearby districts. The party also revealed that its next rally is scheduled for Kohat next Sunday.
Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, and other prominent figures from PTI and TTAP addressed the gathering. Security measures were implemented along the routes to the sports complex, with police deploying extra personnel to control the crowd.
While PTI leaders called the rally a success, reactions on X (Formerly twitter) reflected widespread skepticism and concern, offering a mixed response, with many users expressing strong disapproval of the gathering and the political situation surrounding it.
One post described the rally as a repetitive exercise over the past three years with no concrete results, and criticized party leadership for remaining isolated from public concerns.
Another highlighted what they saw as ineffective or empty speeches, noting that some provincial ministers have been linked to corrupt practices and lack of support for families affected by recent tragedies.
Other users commented on the impact of political activity on the province’s infrastructure.
One wrote that PTI has not contributed to building hospitals, colleges, universities, roads, or bridges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and alleged that repeated rallies have affected existing facilities, including the Hayatabad Sports Complex.
Economic concerns were also raised, with users noting challenges across the province, including closures of factories, transport disruptions, and trading difficulties, while highlighting the continuation of public rallies.
Another post mentioned that a very small fraction of Greater Peshawar’s population attended the rally, suggesting limited turnout in what was described as a critical period.
Overall, the online reactions reflected a polarized view of the rally and the current political climate, with many social media users questioning governance, economic conditions, and the effectiveness of public mobilization efforts.