PTI to decide next move, Sohail Afridi says after barred from meeting Imran Khan

RAWALPINDI: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has said that his party would now convene a meeting to decide the future course of action.

“Since all legal avenues have failed, we will discuss our next steps and announce a plan soon,” he said while talking to the media after being denied a meeting with party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan.

“Despite orders from three judges, I was barred for the fourth time today from meeting my leader,” Afridi said, adding that “someone so powerful is trampling on the Constitution and court orders without any fear of consequence.”

Speaking to the media outside Adiala jail, he said he had followed all legal channels — writing to the Punjab and federal interior ministries as well as the Chief Justice of Pakistan — and had subsequently approached the Islamabad High Court.

Regarding his repeated attempts to meet PTI founder Imran Khan, Afridi said, “I haven’t met my leader in two years. Let’s see how long they can keep me from meeting him.”

He said that he stands against any policy in Pakistan that he believes is wrong.

Afridi said mortar and drone attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had killed entire families.

“In some cases, 21 members of the same household have been martyred. Only those who have suffered these losses can understand this pain,” he said.

When asked about the martyrdom of security personnel, Afridi replied that the country and its armed forces both belong to him. “I attended the funeral of the six soldiers martyred yesterday and shouldered their coffins. There are 80,000 martyrs on my shoulder,” he said.

The chief minister said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has sacrificed 80,000 lives in the fight against terrorism.

“The sacrifices of our soldiers and police officers must be valued. Terror attacks continue from across the Afghan border, resulting in more martyrs,” he added.

In response to a question about the PTI’s sympathies with Afghan nationals, Afridi said that his loyalty lay solely with Pakistan. “If a policy is to be made in Pakistan, decision-makers must take all stakeholders into confidence,” he said.

Asked why he skipped the NFC Award meeting, Afridi said, “No one invited me. I was not called for the NFC meeting. Even the previous chief minister kept demanding to be included. They promised in August that the NFC meeting would be held.”

He said, “If a meeting on the NFC is held in November, I will definitely attend. I will demand the province’s rightful share and claim it openly — but I will not beg for it.”

The federal government had earlier postponed the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award meeting due to floods in Punjab and Sindh.

The meeting, originally scheduled for August 29, was deferred at the request of the Sindh government. The federal government has now summoned the NFC Award meeting for November 18.

Responding to reports about a possible change of governor to block his way, Afridi said, “Whoever comes, it doesn’t matter to me. I came with the people’s mandate and will stay with the people’s mandate.”

He further stated that around 800,000 Afghan nationals had been repatriated from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa so far, and the process for the remaining individuals was continuing with dignity and respect.