Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said PTI founder Imran Khan had committed to restoring the Constitution in its original form and ensuring judicial independence through peaceful street protests.
Addressing lawyers in Lahore, Afridi thanked the legal fraternity for its reception but criticised the Punjab government’s conduct, calling it reflective of authoritarian behaviour.
Referring to Imran Khan’s directives, Afridi said preparations for a street movement were underway and that lawyers would play a central role. He alleged that the justice system had been paralysed, citing incidents where court orders regarding access to the PTI founder were ignored.
He maintained that the Constitution guarantees the right to peaceful assembly and accused Punjab police of routinely detaining PTI workers during visits by leaders from other provinces.
Afridi visited the residences of several detained PTI leaders, including Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Mehmoodur Rashid and Hammad Azhar, and later addressed the media at Zaman Park alongside Aleema Khan.
He said he was happy to visit his leader’s home but added that his joy was incomplete as Imran Khan remained imprisoned. He accused the authorities of misusing power, avoiding dialogue and mismanaging state assets.
Aleema Khan said authorities were fearful of public mobilisation and had resorted to blocking roads and restricting families. She warned that barricades could not suppress a growing movement and said PTI supporters would take to the streets if called upon. She claimed Zaman Park had effectively been turned into a jail.
Afridi also praised the resilience of detained party leaders, saying their sacrifices inspired the movement. He contrasted Punjab’s situation with KP, where opposition members could speak freely in the assembly. He said while dialogue was discussed, recent actions suggested confrontation instead.
Separately, the Lahore Press Club condemned the alleged mistreatment of journalists during Afridi’s visit. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari rejected the allegations, said the KP CM was treated as a respected guest, and reiterated the Punjab government’s commitment to media protection. PTI, however, accused the Punjab government of deliberately provoking provincial discord.
