KARACHI: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Khan Afridi has said that the PTI founder had entrusted him with preparing a street movement. He said the struggle was not for power, but for the restoration of true freedom, an independent judiciary, and a free media.
He was addressing a Meet the Press session at the Karachi Press Club here on Friday. Afridi congratulated the Press Club’s new cabinet and apologized for his delayed arrival, explaining that heavy crowds and an enthusiastic reception caused a six-hour delay. He expressed gratitude for the warm welcome he received from Karachi’s residents.
He said the experience with the Punjab government had been disappointing, citing the treatment of PTI parliamentarians in the Punjab Assembly as regrettable. On Imran Khan’s instructions, he came to Karachi to meet party workers and organizational leaders.
Afridi said that an application for a rally at Jinnah Ground on the 11th had been submitted and all arrangements completed, but permission had yet to be granted. He described the upcoming rally as historic.
He said Pakistan applies different laws to the powerful and the weak, and the movement for true freedom was launched against this injustice. He added that the PTI founder and his wife Bushra Bibi are unjustly imprisoned, basic human rights are being violated, and they are not allowed to meet their families or associates.
Afridi said that since April 9, 2022, no truly democratic government had been in power, emphasizing that the struggle is for the public, media, and democracy, not personal gain. He cited the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif as an example of injustice against media personnel. While Karachi shows signs of improvement, he said, the influence of fascism remains.
Commenting on Sindh, Afridi said the Zardari government still exerts influence, but for now, PTI is satisfied. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the PTI government came to power through popular vote, and the public has placed its trust in Imran Khan for a third term. On security operations, he said that a jirga of political and religious groups agreed no military operation should be carried out. He has contacted the Sindh Chief Minister to raise public concerns and clarified that there is no contact with the establishment. Preparations for the street movement are ongoing, while negotiations are being handled by Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Raja Nasir.
Afridi said the federal government is not releasing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s rightful share under the NFC Award, while the province provides health card benefits of up to PKR 2 million to every citizen with a CNIC.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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