Tensions flare as KP Chief Minister stages rare sit-in after being repeatedly denied access to Imran Khan
For the eighth time in a row, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has been refused a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan. In a dramatic response, Afridi set up a sit-in protest outside Factory Naka, near Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, on Thursday—a move that has stirred political debate across the country.
Afridi’s frustration comes after a similar rejection just last Friday, when jail authorities once again prevented him from seeing the former prime minister, despite a court order from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) authorizing the meeting. Speaking to reporters, he expressed disappointment that legal directives were being ignored, adding that his written appeal to the chief justice also went unanswered. “If court orders mean nothing,” he asked, “then what example does this set for the rest of the country?”
Originally, the CM and his supporters planned to march all the way to Adiala Jail, but their procession was intercepted by a large police presence at Factory Naka. Refusing to back down, Afridi began a peaceful sit-in on the spot, where Punjab lawmaker Hafiz Farhat Abbas later led prayers in solidarity.
Earlier in the day, Afridi told journalists that the police had once again blocked him at the same location where PTI workers recently held another protest after a similar denial. “Last time they stopped me here, and now they’ve done it again,” he said. “I told the officers, if you’re going to defy the court, at least give me that in writing. But they had no explanation.”
According to Afridi, the situation is steadily “deteriorating,” with the government showing what he described as a growing disregard for judicial authority. In a sharp remark that quickly gained traction online, he said, “A province is being treated like a stepmother. If this is how you treat the representative of 25 million people, what message does that send to the rest of Pakistan?” He then challenged the nation with a provocative question: “Would you accept it if this happened to another province tomorrow?”
Afridi further criticized authorities for restricting access to Imran Khan altogether. “No one—his sisters, doctors, lawyers, or even senior party leaders—has been allowed to meet him,” he said. In a pointed warning, he added, “Those in power must decide where they stand. If this continues, we’ll be left with no choice but to take our final step.” He did not clarify what that “final option” might entail, sparking widespread speculation within political circles.
PTI Raises Alarm Over Imran’s Health
Meanwhile, concerns over Imran Khan’s health have been growing within PTI ranks. Party leaders claim that he has been kept in complete isolation for over three weeks, without contact with his family or legal team. Zulfi Bukhari, a close aide to the former prime minister, told Reuters that no one has seen Imran since November 4. “We’re deeply worried about his health and the legality of his solitary confinement,” Bukhari said, demanding that the government immediately grant his family access.
A jail official, however, downplayed these fears, telling Reuters—on condition of anonymity—that Imran Khan was “in good health” and that there were “no plans” to transfer him anywhere else. The Interior Ministry, when approached for comment, did not provide a response.
And here’s where the story takes a divisive turn: Is this a legitimate security measure, or a troubling example of power being used to silence political voices? Should provinces be left powerless when federal institutions ignore court rulings?
What do you think—was CM Afridi right to stage a sit-in, or should such disputes be resolved through quieter political channels? Drop your opinion in the comments; this debate isn’t ending anytime soon.