Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Tuesday strongly criticised the blocking of roads in the federal capital as a protest involving Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders continued at Chungi No. 26 in Rawalpindi.
Talking to the media, Afridi said it was “regrettable” that the way of the provincial chief minister and cabinet was blocked in Islamabad through containers placed on roads. He clarified that their purpose was to express solidarity with the jailed former prime minister Imran Khan and not to stage any protest or hold a formal meeting.
He said the federal government had blocked key routes, saying stopping the chief executive of a province on the road was a matter of concern for the federation. He claimed that in different situations “gas, wheat and even hotels” had been closed at various times, terming it part of broader governance issues.
The KP chief minister reiterated his stance that the PTI founder’s position on the cipher case had been vindicated, and said that an “external conspiracy and internal elements” contributed to the removal of his government.
Afridi expressed concern over the health of the PTI founder, claiming that the entire nation was worried. He said only 25 percent vision was left in one of his eyes. He demanded that Khan be shifted to hospital under the supervision of personal doctors.
He demanded that Khan’s family members, including sisters and personal physicians, be allowed to meet him, adding that if their demands were accepted, they would return immediately. However, he warned that if the road blockade continues, they would adopt a “more stringent policy.”
According to him, parliamentarians were also reaching Chungi No. 26, while the protest would continue until their concerns were addressed. He said the government was ignoring public issues amid rising debt, inflation and unemployment.
Afridi said the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression and assembly, alleging that arrests were being made in Punjab for raising PTI flags. He also claimed that constitutional provisions regarding resource distribution, including gas, were being ignored and that wheat supplies to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had been obstructed.
He alleged that state institutions were being “paralysed” through constitutional amendments.
Meanwhile, PTI workers and leaders remained present at Chungi No. 26 as the protest continued in Rawalpindi. The demonstration remained ongoing, with party leaders demanding medical treatment for the PTI founder and permission for meetings with family members and doctors.
