LAHORE: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who arrived in Lahore earlier this evening with PTI leaders and workers, has been denied entry to the city’s Liberty Chowk area, where a party gathering was expected.
Afridi is in Lahore to spearhead PTI’s plans to launch a street movement and is expected to stage a public event at Liberty Roundabout later in the evening today.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja wrote in a post on X at 9:32pm that he and CM Afridi were at Liberty Chowk, but the Punjab Police were blocking their path.
Meanwhile, visiting PTI members, including KP Minister for Higher Education and Local Government Meena Khan Afridi, were involved in a fracas with guards at the Punjab Assembly.
A video of the scuffle was shared by the PTI at 8:42pm, showing pushing and shoving within a crowd of people, including Meena Khan, KP CM’s aide Shafiullah Jan and guards, along with people shouting.
Earlier this evening, a video shared by the PTI on X at 6pm showed the CM‘s vehicle showered with flowers by party workers and supporters as he arrived at PTI leader Latif Khosa’s residence.
CM Afridi, flanked by Khosa, then addressed reporters at the latter’s residence, acknowledging party supporters who came out in support of the PTI.
“They say that Punjab‘s people do not come out. But they did because on February 8, you only had 17 seats,” he said. “Punjab’s people came out because Imran Khan had 180 seats.
“The people of Punjab and Pakistan stand with only one leader: he is sitting in Adiala jail right now and his name is Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi.”
Traders shut markets in Gulberg
Traders in Gulberg market closed down their shops, offices and business premises on Friday evening following the announcement of a PTI rally, led by KP CM Afridi at Liberty roundabout.
“On the appeal of Gulberg Traders Board—a body of 18 major markets, the shopkeepers closed down their businesses at 7pm,” the board’s chairman Sohail Sarfraz Munj said while talking to Dawn.
“No, we have closed down the shops voluntarily, keeping in view the law and order situation that may deteriorate due to the PTI rally . We took the decision after the police informed us about a possible security threat,“ said the senior trader when asked if the police had asked them to shut down.
Faisal, a property dealer at Liberty Roundabout, also confirmed the development, adding that the traders had shut their shops after receiving a message from the traders’ board president. “All shops have been closed in view of the law and order situation,” he said.
Azma Bukhari welcomes KP CM, warns against property damage
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari welcomed CM Afridi to Lahore, saying he is free to see the lights, eat local food and enjoy the city, but warned him that the use of abusive language or property damage will not be tolerated.
Talking to the media, she remarked that during his visit, former KP chief minister Ali Amin Gandapur was shown “the lights of Lahore” and now CM Afridi should also witness Punjab and Lahore’s beauty and progress and replicate in KP whatever positives he observes in Punjab.
Bukhari called Lahore “the Europe of Pakistan,” adding that if conditions in Peshawar are poor, visiting Lahore for learning and recreation is welcome.
She stressed that the KP CM has full permission for tourism, political or informative, but he will not be allowed to use abusive language, create unrest, or spread chaos. She further warned that bringing weapons or drugs to Lahore would not be allowed.
Referring to past protests, she said CM Afridi is “not a bigger leader than ‘Fitna Khan’ (Imran Khan)” and that the public response to protest calls during Afridi’s Lahore visit would be worse than what the PTI founder received.
Highlighting the festive atmosphere due to Christmas, Bukhari added that Liberty Market is beautifully decorated with lights and a tree, but emphasised any attempt to damage public property would not be tolerated.
Bukhari also regretted that the Lahore police contacted the KP CM’s staff today without receiving any response.
“We will extend warm hospitality to guests,” Azma Bukhari concluded. “But guests must behave like guests.”
Afridi reaches Lahore
An earlier video shared by the party at 4:33pm showed Afridi’s vehicle entering Lahore through a toll plaza, while vehicles belonging to workers and supporters were halted and the toll plaza was subsequently closed.
Speaking to reporters after crossing Ravi Toll Plaza, the CM noted that while he had been granted entry, at least seven accompanying vehicles had been stopped.
“Workers from Mandi Bahauddin were stopped from travelling to Lahore through Bhera,” he said, claiming that roads were blocked and party workers had been arrested.
A reporter informed him that media vehicles had also been denied entry.
“Democratic governments do not do things like this,” he added. When asked if he wanted to convey a message to Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif, he said, “The CM does not understand that by taking these actions, she is worsening tensions between two provinces.”
When asked about his response to claims that PTI founder Imran Khan is a “security threat”, CM Afridi replied, “My message is this: Imran Khan is a symbol of national unity and guarantees political and economic stability.”
CM Afridi is also expected to visit the Punjab Assembly during his time in the provincial capital. To that end, the Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Moeen Riaz Qureshi wrote a letter to the speaker — a copy of which is available with Dawn — to prepare for the CM’s visit.
Meanwhile, the PTI posted a video on X of opposition lawmakers gathering at the Punjab Assembly to greet the KP chief minister.
“During the visit, he (CM Afridi) will hold a meeting with the opposition members and will also interact with representatives of the media. The [honourable] chief minister will remain in the Assembly until 8pm,” the letter read.
“In view of the above, you are kindly requested to make the necessary administrative and security arrangements for the said visit, including seating, protocol and media coordination, to ensure that the program is conducted smoothly.”
Earlier today, KP Minister Meena Khan said CM Maryam should be “ashamed for trampling on Punjab’s traditions” by blocking roads and closing down restaurants.
“I want to tell her that she cannot stop us from moving on our path or thwart our mission,” he said in a video posted by the party on X. “This is only practice, but the full match is coming.”
Moreover, the CM’s aide on information and public relations Shafiullah Jan said that the “tsunami” would reach Lahore, despite “hurdles” he claimed were placed to stop the PTI march.
“We are crossing these hurdles and moving forward. The convoy is moving. When we reach Lahore, God willing, Section 804 will be in place,“ he said, referring to Imran’s prisoner number.
According to an update posted on PTI’’s official X account at 2:24pm, the KP CM had reached Bhera by then in Punjab.
PTI Punjab chief organiser Aliya Hamza Malik had earlier said that CM Afridi, his cabinet members and members of the provincial assembly would make their first stop in Punjab at Bhera during their journey to Lahore.
She had asked ticket-holders and party office-bearers from the Sargodha and Mandi Bahauddin divisions to welcome Afridi at that location.
An update shared by PTI‘s Central Punjab account at 1pm said that CM Afridi’s convoy had reached Chakri at the time after making its way through “blockades by police ”.
Another post on the account said policemen in large numbers had been deployed at the site.
Sharing a video, where PTI supporters were seen engaging with police, the party alleged that law enforcers had tried to block the CM’s convoy from moving forward at Chakri Interchange.
PTI MPAs from Punjab have gathered at the provincial assembly to welcome and meet the KP CM.
The PTI has also alleged that police arrested scores of party leaders and workers late on Thursday night.
“The Punjab government is scared to the extent that police began carrying out raids on Thursday night and picked hundreds of party workers,” stated PTI MPA Farrukh Javed Moon in a video message.
Instead, he said, the Punjab government should act democratically and welcome the KP CM.
Sohail Afridi on Thursday had said that the PTI would launch a street movement in line with the directives of its founder, Imran Khan, with “full force”.
Meanwhile, Malik had said that the PTI would follow party founder Imran Khan’s directives to launch a “mass protest movement” in Pakistan’s largest province by population.
She said it would be a “historic moment” to convert Lahore’s main boulevard into a march for the release of Khan.
The chief organiser instructed all ticket-holders, office-bearers, workers, and lawyers in the Lahore division to ensure their presence at Liberty Roundabout to welcome CM Afridi.
More to follow
