Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Thursday expressed strong reservations over what he described as repeated violations of court orders and restrictions on his meeting with the jailed former prime minister Imran Khan.
Speaking to the media in Rawalpindi, Afridi said the recent incident wherein Khan's sisters were denied a meeting with him was “against eastern traditions” and an infringement of legal directives. “I have court orders, yet I am not being allowed to meet Khan. I have written to federal and provincial governments, but no action has been taken,” he stated.
Afridi criticized the provincial authorities for what he called “throwing the court order in the trash,” adding that despite contacting the Chief Justice of Pakistan multiple times, he had not received a response. “Now tell me, what should I do? I am the Chief Executive of the province, and yet my passport has been taken from me,” he said, asserting that he had no assets outside Pakistan.
Responding to a journalist’s question about whether his earlier remarks suggested an intention to separate from the federation, the Chief Minister strongly rejected the notion. “Pakistan is mine. I am Pakistani. Anyone who thinks of separation from Pakistan is a traitor,” he said.
Afridi also referenced previous incidents, including the November 26 firing on unarmed citizens and the events at Jamia Hafsa Gilgit-Baltistan, saying they “will be remembered.” He cautioned that “policies made in closed rooms harm the country,” claiming that some of his earlier statements were “taken out of context.”
He reiterated that he had only advocated for fair electoral practices. “I had only said that rigging should not be allowed, particularly in the election of Omar Ayub,” he clarified, stressing that all party protests had been conducted within constitutional and legal bounds.
Afridi further stated that his attempts to meet the jailed founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) resulted in cases being registered against him by investigative agencies. “Baseless allegations are being levelled against him. I should be told who holds the authority,” he said. “I am a democratic person. I have gone to the National Assembly, the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister—everyone.”
Afridi concluded by asserting that strong institutions were essential for a stable state and that political differences must be addressed through law and constitutional process.