KP CM stages sit-in after being denied meeting with Imran

RAWALPINDI: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi Thursday staged a dramatic sit-in on the Adiala Road after being prevented from meeting the incarcerated founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan.

The disruption began when CM Afridi, en route to Adiala Jail, was intercepted by the police at the Dahgal checkpoint and barred from proceeding. The chief minister, accompanied by key party figures including Junaid Akbar and Salman Akram Raja, sat down on the road, effectively halting all traffic. The resulting blockade led to a complete standstill while protesters chanted slogans against the restriction.

Addressing the media following the protest, Sohail Afridi delivered a scathing critique of the situation, directly challenging the state’s respect for the judiciary. “Despite explicit court orders, we were denied access to meet our leader today,” he stated. “This starkly illustrates the helplessness of the judiciary—that judges are unable to enforce their own decisions.”

Afridi went on to make a definitive declaration regarding his governance, stating, “The provincial cabinet will not be formed without Imran Khan’s approval,” thereby cementing his allegiance to the PTI founder’s political direction.

Touching upon broader policy, the chief minister assured that the repatriation of Afghan nationals would be handled with “dignity and respect.”

Afridi announced his intention to now take his grievance to the court of the people. He distinguished his role as chief minister, which is to “serve my people,” from the party’s duty to organise “rallies and demonstrations,” confirming his commitment to following party leadership instructions.