RAWALPINDI – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi was not allowed to meet PTI founder Imran Khan in Adiala Jail on Thursday, after which he directed party workers to leave for protests in different cities of the country at 10 pm.
Sohail Afridi reached Adiala Road along with PTI leaders and MLAs to go to the jail, but the police stopped him near the Medicine Factory check post. Security arrangements were made on the way to the jail, and traffic was diverted to alternative routes.
Meeting attempt failed
The Chief Minister demanded permission from the jail authorities to meet him and said that he would wait until the appointed time. However, after the meeting did not take place, he explained the future course of action for the party workers and leaders in a media interview.
According to Sohail Afridi, the workers should gather at the squares and intersections of their respective areas at 10 pm carrying the flags of Pakistan and PTI. He appealed to organise this protest on a nationwide level; however, the practical response to this call in different cities and the administrative situation can be assessed only after the protest.
Emphasis on September 27, March too
The Chief Minister also directed the workers to continue preparations for the proposed Islamabad march on September 27. He said that PTI intends to bring a large number of workers to Islamabad in this March, and for this purpose, the process of coordination and mobilisation will continue in different districts.
PTI had earlier also declared the 27th of September as an important part of its upcoming political activities. Sohail Afridi has also claimed the support of the party leadership and allied political groups, while the success of the march depends on organisational preparation, participation of workers and administrative conditions.
The meeting issue is under discussion again
The issue of permission for meetings with Imran Khan has been a source of conflict between PTI and the jail administration in the past. The party leadership has been expressing concerns about the meeting and Imran Khan’s health, while the authorities have been calling the prison rules and administrative matters important.
The latest incident has also increased political tension after the meeting did not take place. Sohail Afridi harshly criticised the government and the current system, linking it to the political crisis; however, his statements are his political stance, and it is also important to keep in mind the government’s stance on this issue.
Protest likely to increase political pressure
Sohail Afridi’s latest call can be seen as a strategy by the PTI to increase political pressure on the issue of reaching out to Imran Khan. The announcement of the preparation of the September 27 march, along with the immediate protest, indicates that the party intends to increase political activities on the streets in the coming weeks.
However, the nature and intensity of the nationwide protest will depend on administrative decisions in different cities, worker participation and local conditions. In the context of the tension between the government and the PTI, any decision regarding negotiations, legal developments or meetings in the coming days may further clarify the direction of the situation.
