KP CM Sohail Afridi slams federal govt, seeks meeting with Imran Khan

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Thursday expressed frustration as he was once again not allowed to meet the jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, despite repeated attempts and a court order permitting the meeting.

Speaking to the media at Dahgal checkpoint near Adiala Jail, Afridi said he had been following the legal and constitutional path, but his requests to meet the PTI founder had not been entertained. “My leader has already exposed this system, but some people's minds have gathered too much dust,” Afridi remarked. He said, "We will not accept the policy that will be made without taking us into confidence as before. Federal ministers held press conferences and made allegations against me, for which they should apologise."

Afridi said, "Some people have become more powerful than their institutions, but we do not know who is giving them orders. They had a problem with my name. I am still angry with their false allegations. The conditions that were created today were not like this before. They tried to put a cross on my name, which they are ashamed of today."

The chief minister said that he had an equal respect for the martyred civilians and soldiers. He asked, "Do you realise how much pain a military operation causes and how much suffering it brings? You know the results of a military operation? You know our pain? People sitting behind closed doors make decisions. We will not accept policies that are made without taking us into confidence. Name any politician who can end this political trial. We will sit with him. They are not letting us meet Imran Khan despite a court order. Therefore, they are responsible for this crime. The province was not taken into confidence on anything. The fence has been erected. They made claims about foolproof security, so where do terrorists come from? This is our question."