KP CM Afridi reaches Lahore to launch PTI’s fresh street movement
LAHORE: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi arrived in Lahore on Friday evening, where the PTI plans to launch a fresh street movement and is expected to stage a public event at Liberty Roundabout 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.”
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 to prepare for the CM’s visit. Staff Report
