KP Chief Minister will meet party leaders, lawyers and Sindh CM in Karachi.
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi at Islamabad International Airport. Photo: Express
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Friday left for a three-day visit to Sindh, where he is scheduled to participate in political activities, hold meetings and attend a rally at Mazar-e-Quaid.
Afridi left Peshawar that same day, but his flight, PK-201, was diverted from Karachi to Islamabad due to adverse weather conditions. The flight is expected to take off for Karachi around 12:30 pm, according to airport sources.
During the visit, Afridi will meet party leaders as well as lawyers, business organisations, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and media representatives in Karachi. At the Islamabad airport, members of the public took selfies with the prime minister, who was accompanied by members of the provincial cabinet and KP members of the National and Provincial Assemblies.
Speaking to reporters at the airport, Afridi said Sindh party leaders had shared the schedule of visits and asked for participation in planned activities, including a rally at Mazar-e-Quaid on Sunday.
Read: Afridi prepares for the Karachi stage on the street
Earlier in Peshawar, Afridi said he was conveying a message from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founding president Imran Khan and urged his followers to take part in the street movement. He described the rally planned for January 11 at Mazar-e-Quaid as a large public gathering.
Planned itinerary in Sindh
Special Assistant to Chief Minister on Information Shafi Jan said the visit, carried out under the leadership of the party, was aimed at strengthening the street movement in Sindh.
As per the schedule, Afridi will meet party leaders at the Justice House, visit the press club and meet the Sindh chief minister. He is also scheduled to attend a rally at Mazar-e-Quaid and participate in political activities in South, Malir and Korangi districts.
On Saturday, Afridi is scheduled to travel to Hyderabad, where he will hit the bar and press club, attend a party convention and meet local leaders, besides participating in political activities in Hyderabad and Kotri.
Afridi is expected to meet senior lawyers and traders and take part in political activities in Kemari and the Western District on Sunday, before concluding his visit with the rally at Mazar-e-Quaid and returning to Peshawar on Monday.
Turbulent visit to Lahore
Afridi’s visit to Sindh follows a visit to Lahore during which he was prevented from addressing his supporters at Liberty Chowk after police blocked access routes. He later addressed PTI legislators in the Punjab Assembly, where clashes between members of his entourage and security officials were reported.
Read: Afridi criticizes Punjab govt for blocking PTI activities in Lahore
He was also prohibited from entering the cantonment area to meet party leaders and visit the city’s food street, which had been closed before his arrival. Later, Afridi went to Zaman Park amid heavy police deployment, as reports emerged of the arrest of PTI supporters.
On Monday, Afridi lodged a formal complaint with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz over the treatment she said she received in Lahore. In the letter, he described the Punjab government’s security measures as “extraordinary and excessive” and said they amounted to intimidation rather than cooperation.
