Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi arrived in Karachi on Friday to begin a three-day visit aimed at mobilising support for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) street movement.
Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani received the KP chief minister at the airport, where the two were seen exchanging greetings. During the welcome, Afridi was presented with a traditional Sindhi cap and Ajrak.
During the visit, Afridi will meet party leadership, as well as lawyers, business organisations, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, and media representatives in Karachi. At Islamabad Airport, members of the public took selfies with the chief minister, who was accompanied by provincial cabinet members and K-P’s members of the National and Provincial Assemblies.
Speaking to reporters at the airport, Afridi said Sindh party leadership had shared the visit schedule and called for participation in planned activities, including a rally at Mazar-e-Quaid on Sunday.
Afridi announced that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will hold a massive public rally at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi on Sunday (January 11). The rally is part of the party’s street movement ahead of the protest call scheduled for February 8.
In a statement issued on Friday, CM Sohail Afridi said the rally would begin at 4:30pm. He added that his visit to Sindh aims to take the message of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan to every part of the province. He also called on the people of Sindh to fully support PTI’s street movement, claiming the gathering would be the biggest rally Karachi has ever seen. CM Afridi who was due to depart for Karachi from Islamabad Airport at 9:00 am on Friday, got his flight delayed which will now be expected to land at Karachi Airport after 2:00 pm.
Meanwhile, CM Afridi’s aide on information, Shafi Jan, said the chief minister will meet Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday, January 12.
During his stay in Sindh, Afridi is also expected to meet party leaders at the Insaf House, visit the press club, and travel to Hyderabad. According to Shafi Jan, CM Afridi will also visit prison facilities in Karachi’s District South, Korangi, and Malir to meet inmates.
In Hyderabad, he will address the bar association and press club, attend an Insaf Students Federation convention, and hold meetings with the party’s local leadership.PTI has formally requested permission to hold a public gathering near Mazar-e-Quaid. Karachi Region PTI President Raja Azhar wrote to the deputy commissioner of District East, seeking approval for a peaceful rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah and assuring that all rules and codes of conduct would be followed.
Later, the Sindh government said it has decided to allow PTI to hold a political rally at Jinnah Ground in Karachi, provincial minister Nasir Hussain Shah said on Saturday.
Talking to media, Nasir Shah stated that Afridi is free to carry out political activities anywhere in the province. He said that the peaceful struggle of any political party, including PTI, cannot be stopped. However, he warned that problems could arise if the law is violated.
The minister clarified that there is no ban on PTI’s rally. He added that the party has also applied for permission to hold rallies in Korangi and the South district. PTI has formally sought permission for a rally at Jinnah Garden, which is being granted in accordance with the law. He said talks are ongoing with PTI leadership and permission for a Karachi rally can be given as per legal requirements.
Afridi stresses joint effort for peace in KP
Moreover, Afridi reiterated his opposition to any form of military operation in the province, saying peace could not be restored through force alone and stressing the need for a joint approach involving the federal government, the K-P government, political parties and security institutions.
Addressing a Meet the Press programme at the Karachi Press Club on Friday, Afridi said his government opposed not only the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) but all terrorist organisations, however he said that operation could never bring peace.
He said more than 14 military operations had already been conducted in the province, with reports of 15 more being planned, yet millions had been displaced and promised compensation had not been delivered.