Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was unable to address a planned gathering at Lahore’s Liberty Roundabout on Friday night after police blocked all access routes to the area, effectively preventing the event from taking place.
Although the chief minister managed to reach the vicinity, a heavy police presence and multiple pickets stopped his convoy and supporters from assembling. PTI shared videos on social media showing party workers, including Imran Khan’s sisters Aleema Khan and Noreen Khan Niazi, gathered near Liberty Chowk.
Mr Afridi, who was in Lahore to launch the PTI’s street movement, had earlier spent the day meeting and addressing supporters at various points en route to the city. His convoy entered Lahore around 4:30pm, after which he proceeded to the Punjab Assembly. The visit was marked by tense exchanges between members of his entourage and security officials, as well as heated interactions between PTI leaders and journalists.
Addressing PTI lawmakers at the Punjab Assembly, the KP chief minister thanked the people of Punjab for their hospitality but criticised the police treatment of PTI workers. He alleged that party supporters and leaders were harassed and detained at several locations, including Chakri Interchange, Bhera, Sargodha and Mandi Bahauddin.
Mr Afridi also criticised the federal government over economic mismanagement, rising unemployment, farmer distress and what he termed restrictions on political activity. He said PTI workers were being targeted to prevent rallies and meetings involving party leadership.
Earlier, speaking to the media, the chief minister said he was in Lahore on the instructions of PTI founder Imran Khan to launch a mass movement, claiming that “oppression is about to end” and pledging to pursue what he described as constitutional supremacy and judicial independence.
Responding to his remarks, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said Mr Afridi was welcome in Lahore for tourism or observation but would not be allowed to incite unrest. She added that the provincial government had ensured foolproof security for his three-day visit.
