The chief minister says the street movement will continue peacefully for the release of Imran Khan and constitutional government.
KARACHI:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said on Saturday that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would go ahead with a public rally in Karachi’s Bagh-e-Jinnah, although the party is yet to receive written permission from authorities.
Speaking to the media before leaving Karachi for Hyderabad, Afridi said the 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 the PTI’s preparations for a nationwide street movement launched under the leadership of party founder Imran Khan. During his stay, he plans to meet with party leaders, lawyers, businessmen and media representatives, and hold political consultations. The visit will conclude with a public rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah on Sunday to mobilize support for what the party describes as a peaceful campaign for the release of the PTI founder and the restoration of constitutional rule.
He alleged that the PTI was facing unfair treatment by 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 the PTI had formed the government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for the third consecutive term and was currently holding political meetings in Karachi. “The whole of Pakistan belongs to Pakistanis,” he said, noting that people frequently travel between Sindh and KP in search of employment.
Read: Sohail Afridi heads to Sindh for meetings and rallies at Mazar-e-Quaid
He also highlighted the difficulties faced by KP residents in accessing health services while in Sindh and highlighted the need for equal political rights for all parties. “If leaders of all political parties are allowed to engage in politics, then the same permission should apply to all,” he said.
The prime minister said that Imran Khan had entrusted him with the task of leading 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 cannot be achieved through force alone.
“We oppose not only the TTP but all terrorist organizations,” he said, adding that more than 14,000 operations have already been carried out in the province, displacing millions. “Operations without consultation have brought losses, not lasting peace,” he said.
Read more: Afridi prepares for the Karachi stage on the street
Afridi said the PTI had consistently opposed the resettlement of militants, a stance he said was on record. “From Bajaur to Shangla, people protested when there were reports that militants were being resettled,” he said, claiming that the province had made more than 80,000 sacrifices 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.
Afridi called for a joint strategy to combat terrorism and said efforts must involve the federal and provincial governments, political parties and security institutions. “If the prime minister invites me to talks aimed at ending terrorism, I will attend,” he said, stressing that dialogue and political consensus were essential to restore peace in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
