Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has announced to stage a sit-in protest outside the Supreme Court building in Islamabad, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
After making the announcement the KP chief minister sat among the PTI leaders and workers who were already staging a protest outside the apex court building on Friday.
Earlier in the day, senior leaders and workers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, Salman Akram Raja and Latif Khosa, staged a protest outside the Supreme Court, chanting slogans for the release of party founder Imran Khan.
The protest coincided with heightened security arrangements, as additional security personnel were deployed both inside and outside the Supreme Court building, while Federal Constabulary personnel were also stationed on the premises. A prison van was parked outside the court as part of the security measures.
PTI leadership had earlier announced that they would arrive at the Supreme Court today to pursue legal avenues for meeting the jailed party founder.
According to 24NewsHD TV channel, PTI leaders are expected to file a formal request in the Supreme Court seeking permission to meet Imran Khan.
Prior to the protest demonstration, Salman Akram Raja and Latif Khosa held a 10-minute meeting with the Registrar of the Supreme Court, during which they requested the court’s cooperation in facilitating a meeting with Imran Khan.
Later, speaking to the media outside the Supreme Court, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s founding chairman Imran Khan was being denied meetings, adding that the party now had other options to consider.
Afridi said that repeated efforts to meet Imran Khan had failed, despite legal requests and assurances, forcing the party leadership to explore alternative courses of action.
He expressed serious concern over what he described as a lack of transparency surrounding the PTI founder’s recent medical treatment, stating that Imran Khan was taken to hospital for eye surgery without informing the party leadership.
Sohail Afridi said neither the timing nor the details of the procedure were shared with PTI, adding that even the fact of the surgery had been concealed from them.
He said such actions raised questions about the treatment of the jailed former prime minister, stressing that the party had legitimate concerns regarding access to its founder and his health.
The KP chief minister reiterated that PTI believed in pursuing its struggle through constitutional and legal means, but warned that continued denial of access would compel the party to reassess its next steps.
Spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government Shafi Jan said they had come to the Supreme Court to seek a meeting with the Chief Justice.
He said that if they were required to approach the constitutional court, they would do so as well, adding that they would file a petition in the Supreme Court requesting access to the PTI founder.
Shafi Jan stated that if permission was granted by the court, the party leadership would proceed to Adiala Jail to meet Imran Khan, stressing that PTI believes in the rule of law and the Constitution.
He further said that the decision regarding any protest or future course of action would be announced by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
Meanwhile, security was further tightened in response to the arrival of PTI leadership at the Supreme Court, with additional personnel deployed inside and outside the premises, Federal Constabulary officers placed on duty, and a prison van brought to the location.
Reporter: Amanat Gishkori