Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has formally requested the Supreme Court of Pakistan to allow a meeting with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, who is currently incarcerated at Adiala Jail. Afridi emphasized that consulting Khan is crucial for the formation of the new provincial cabinet and for making several key administrative and policy decisions.
In a letter addressed to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, the newly elected chief minister stated that he holds a “constitutional and moral obligation” to seek guidance from the PTI founder. According to Afridi, the party’s patron-in-chief must be consulted on critical governance matters affecting the province, including law and order and economic challenges.
The chief minister revealed that his office had already approached the federal interior secretary and the Punjab home secretary multiple times to arrange a meeting with Imran Khan. However, despite continuous communication and follow-ups, no response was received from the authorities concerned.
-in-Chief,“There is a pressing need to seek direction from the Founder Chairman/Patron in Chief Mr. Imran Ahmad Khan Niazi, regarding the above matters and others, including relations regarding certain important matters with the Federation and other provinces,” Afridi wrote in his letter to the top judge.
essential;He further highlighted the urgency of the meeting by pointing to ongoing provincial challenges, saying, “The seeking of direction is extremely essential, even presently the province of Punjab has stopped the inter-provincial trade of wheat.”
higher education.Sohail Afridi recently succeeded Ali Amin Gandapur as the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after being elected to the position earlier this month. The young leader, who hails from Bara Tehsil in Khyber District, previously served as the provincial minister for Higher Education. Known for his close association with the PTI since his student years, Afridi is recognized as one of the party’s most dedicated and grassroots-oriented members.
In his maiden address to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Afridi described himself as “a champion of confrontational politics,” suggesting that he intends to carry forward his predecessor’s push for Imran Khan’s release “with renewed determination.”
paralyzeThe PTI leader also issued a stern warning during his speech, declaring that if authorities attempt to relocate the PTI founder from Adiala Jail without informing his family or the party, “they would paralyse the whole country in protest.”
Afridi’s plea to the Supreme Court underscores the continuing influence of the PTI founder over party affairs and provincial decision-making, even as he remains behind bars. The chief minister’s appeal has drawn national attention, highlighting the ongoing political tension between the PTI-led provincial government and federal authorities.
