Charged workers of opposition parties set out for Islamabad.

PESHAWAR -- Tens of thousands of workers of opposition parties and students of seminaries set out for Islamabad from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to take part in Azadi March.

Leader of Opposition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Akram Khan Durrani, who has affiliation with JUI-F, Awami National Party central president Asfandyar Wali Khan, Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz provincial president Amir Muqam and Pakistan Peoples Party provincial president Humayun Khan led separate processions of workers of their parties towards Islamabad.

Asfandyar Wali Khan departed for Islamabad from Rashakai Interchange. Senior leaders and thousands of workers of ANP from Charsadda, Mardan, Swabi and Peshawar carrying party's flags joined their leader on motorway.

The marchers, travelling in cars, buses, coaches and trucks, and riding motorbikes, reached Peshawar from all parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and left for Islamabad via motorway and Grand Trunk Road.

JUI-F spokesman Abdul Jalil Jan said that over 10,000 vehicles from different districts, carrying marchers, were on way to Islamabad.

JUI-F leader puts number of marchers from KP at half million

Intelligence agencies' reports suggested that number of marchers was from 25,000 to 30,000. A senior official, however, said that more people were joining the cavalcades and the number of marchers would swell further.

Senior leader of JUI-F Haji Ghulam Ali brushed aside estimates of the intelligence agencies and put the number of participants from KP at more than half a million. 'The length of the main procession on M-1 is 25 kilometres,' he said.

Like political workers, students of seminaries also proceeded to Islamabad. JUI-F workers and students of seminaries were carrying dry fruits and sleeping bags which indicated that Maulana Fazlur Rehman has planned to prolong his protest in Islamabad. JUI-F leaders said that seminaries had not been closed for the march.

'We are going to Islamabad with full preparation and might stay there for weeks,' said Ameen Rehman, a student of seminary. He said that he along with colleagues was going to Islamabad without permission of his teachers.

The workers of JUI-F and ANP were looking very charged and enthusiastic. The ANP workers played nationalist songs, while the JUI-F workers played party songs.

PPP had set up a camp opposite the JUI-F provincial headquarters to facilitate its workers. Initially, it was planned that processions...