RAWALPINDI: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Khan Afridi on Thursday expressed serious concern over the reports circulating regarding the health of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and demanded permission to meet Khan to inquire about his health condition.
Talking to reporters after he was stopped by police at Factory Naka from moving toward the Adiala jail to meet the jailed PTI founding chairman Imran Khan, he said that since yesterday (Wednesday), various media outlets have been reporting that the former prime minister’s health has deteriorated, while several unverified claims and speculations continue to spread.
Afridi, along with other party leaders and workers, staged a sit-in at Factory Naka after he was denied a meeting with Khan.
“These reports are now being discussed not only in national media but also internationally, which has further increased our concern,” he said, adding that the entire nation is anxious about Imran Khan’s well-being.
Afridi said that he and other PTI leadership should be allowed to meet with Khan to ascertain his health condition and obtain firsthand information. “Uncertainty is creating distress and restlessness among the public. If this situation persists, it may force people to come out onto the streets,” Afridi warned.
He added that the party leaders want to meet Khan, verify his condition, speak with him directly, and then inform the nation with accurate details.
To a question, he said that various options are currently under consideration, adding that the PTI’s next protest will be more effective. “PTI leadership is evaluating multiple strategies and will decide on the most impactful option, soon,” he said.
Criticizing the federal and provincial government of Punjab for not allowing him to meet former prime minister Khan, he said that he represents 45 million people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and for the eighth time, he was barred from meeting with the PTI founding chairman.
He said that treating the chief minister in such away is tantamount to the “humiliation” of the whole province, and warned that if similar treatment were extended to others, they would not tolerate it.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said that his provincial government has exhausted all legal and democratic avenues to address the ongoing political conflict, urging critics to review recent events fairly.
He said that the low voter turnout in the recent by-election prove that the people of Punjab had chosen to show solidarity with Khan.
More than 95 percent of voters stayed home, he said.
Afridi lamented that unemployment was rising sharply and youngsters were leaving the country. He warned that those responsible for what he called “stealing the public mandate” would be held accountable, too.
He said that the Toshakhana II case against Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, was scheduled for hearing today (Thursday), but the court adjourned the hearing of the case till December 20 without any proceedings. Since October 27, neither the sisters of Khan nor the lawyers and party leadership have been allowed to meet Khan, which has increased our concern.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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