Pakistan: In light of PTI rally preparations, KP CM Sohail Afridi refused admission to Liberty Chowk in Lahore

Pakistan: Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was refused access to the Liberty Chowk area, where the party was organizing a public meeting, after arriving in Lahore earlier on Friday with PTI officials and employees, according to Dawn.

Afridi was supposed to hold a public gathering at Liberty Roundabout later in the evening while in Lahore leading the PTI’s planned street demonstration.

In a post on X, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja claimed that Punjab Police were obstructing his and the KP Chief Minister’s movement when they were at Liberty Chowk.

Afridi’s car was showered with flowers by party members when he arrived at PTI leader Latif Khosa’s home, according to a video that PTI posted on X earlier.

Afridi recognized the party supporters’ attendance while speaking to reporters there, saying, “They say that Punjab’s people do not come out.” However, they did so since there were only 17 seats available on February 8.

He said, “Punjab’s people came out because Imran Khan had 180 seats.”

He went on to say, “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.”

Following the announcement of the PTI rally headed by Afridi at Liberty Roundabout, shopkeepers in Gulberg market closed their stores, offices, and commercial spaces on Friday night.

The Gulberg Traders Board chairman, Sohail Sarfraz Munj, informed Dawn that traders shut down at 7 p.m. in response to the board’s request.

“No, we voluntarily shuttered the stores in light of the potential worsening of the law and order situation brought on by the PTI demonstration. After the police alerted us to a potential security risk, we made the choice,” he stated.

The closures were also verified by Liberty Roundabout real estate broker Faisal, who said, “All shops have been closed in view of the law and order situation.”

While welcoming the KP chief minister to Lahore, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari issued a warning that any use of derogatory language, disturbances, or destruction of public property would not be accepted.

Afridi was free to explore the city, eat local cuisine, and take in Lahore’s progress, she told the media, adding that he could duplicate the beneficial features in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to Dawn, she referred to Lahore as “the Europe of Pakistan” and emphasized that while political activity and tourism were allowed, disorder, guns, and narcotics would not.

Bukhari went on to say that earlier in the day, the Lahore police had reached out to Afridi’s employees but had not heard back.

“We will extend warm hospitality to guests,” she said. “But guests must behave like guests.”

Afridi’s convoy was shown entering Lahore via a toll plaza in earlier footage released by PTI, while cars carrying workers and supporters were stopped and the toll plaza was momentarily blocked.

Afridi told reporters that many escorting cars had been stopped when he crossed Ravi Toll Plaza.

He said that party members had been detained and that “workers from Mandi Bahauddin were stopped from travelling to Lahore through Bhera,” adding that highways had been barricaded.

According to him, “Democratic governments do not do things like this.” He referred to the situation as undemocratic.

According to Afridi, “The CM does not understand that by taking these actions, she is worsening tensions between two provinces.”

When asked whether PTI founder Imran Khan was a security danger, Afridi said, “My message is this: Imran Khan is a symbol of national unity and guarantees political and economic stability.”

Afridi is anticipated to attend the Punjab Assembly as well.

Dawn has a copy of the letter that Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Moeen Riaz Qureshi sent to the speaker asking for preparations for the visit.

The letter requested administrative, security, and media coordination procedures and said that Afridi will meet with opposition members and engage with the media.

Late on Thursday night, PTI officials claimed that several party employees had been detained by the police.

In a video message, PTI MPA Farrukh Javed Moon said that the Punjab government should welcome the KP chief minister and behave democratically instead of behaving out of fear.

Afridi has previously said that the PTI will follow its founder Imran Khan’s instructions and begin a street campaign with “full force.”

Leaders of the PTI have declared that the party would carry out Khan’s instructions to start a “mass protest movement” in Punjab, describing it as a “historic moment” intended to rally support for Khan’s release.

At the Punjab Assembly and other venues, PTI supporters and opposition members gathered to greet Afridi. The party accused the government of erecting obstacles to prevent the convoy’s passage.