Chief Minister says street movement will continue peacefully for Imran Khan’s release and constitutional rule
KARACHI:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said on Saturday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would embark on a public rally in Karachi’s Bagh-e-Jinnah, even though the party is yet to receive written permission from the authorities.
Speaking to the media before leaving Karachi for Hyderabad, Afridi said PTI received a “warm and enthusiastic welcome” in the city. “I thank the people of Karachi for the reception,” he said, adding, “We are political people; our real protocol comes from the public.”
Afridi is on a three-day visit to Karachi as part of PTI’s preparations for a nationwide street movement launched under the leadership of party founder Imran Khan. During the stay, he is scheduled to meet party leaders, lawyers, traders and media representatives and hold political consultations. The visit is to conclude with a public meeting at Bagh-e-Jinnah on Sunday to mobilize support for what the party describes as a peaceful campaign for the PTI founder’s release and restoration of constitutional rule.
He alleged that the PTI was facing unfair treatment from the Punjab government, which he described as a “fake government”, and said that Imran Khan was being denied meetings with his family. “This is a political fight and restrictions on political engagement are unacceptable,” he said.
Afridi said PTI had formed the government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for the third consecutive term and was currently holding political meetings in Karachi. “All of Pakistan belongs to Pakistanis,” he said, noting that people often travel between Sindh and KP for work.
Read: Sohail Afridi goes to Sindh to meet and meet at Mazar-e-Quaid
He also highlighted difficulties faced by KP residents in accessing health facilities while in Sindh and stressed the need for equal political rights for all parties. “If leaders of all political parties are allowed to practice politics, then the same permission should apply to everyone,” he said.
The chief minister said that Imran Khan had directed him to lead the street movement. “We continue a peaceful struggle for his release,” he added.
A day earlier, speaking at a Meet the Press program at the Karachi Press Club, Afridi reiterated his opposition to any new military operation in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, saying peace could not be achieved through force alone.
“We oppose not only TTP but all terrorist organizations,” he said, adding that more than 14,000 operations had already been conducted in the province, which displaced millions. “Operations without consultation have brought losses, not lasting peace,” he maintained.
Read more: Afridi set for Karachi stage of street drive
Afridi said the PTI had consistently opposed the resettlement of militants, a position he said was on record. “From Bajaur to Shangla, people protested as there were reports of militants being resettled,” he said, claiming that the province had suffered over 80,000 casualties in the war against terrorism. He added that a peace jirga made up of political and religious parties and civil society representatives had unanimously rejected further military action.
Calling for a joint strategy to fight terrorism, Afridi said the effort must involve the federal and provincial governments, political parties and security institutions. “If the prime minister invites me for talks aimed at stopping terrorism, I will participate,” he said, stressing that dialogue and political consensus were essential to restore peace in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
