Afridi set for Karachi leg of street drive

K-P CM says he will carry Imran Khan's message on Jan 9

ISLAMABAD:

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Thursday announced that he will take his street campaign to Karachi on January 9 to mobilise party supporters and convey incarcerated party founder Imran Khan's message.

Days after concluding a fraught three-day visit to Lahore aimed at launching Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's (PTI) street movement, Afridi wrote on X, "Friday, January 9! Karachi, Sindh, are you ready?"

The K-P chief minister said he would be visiting Karachi "bearing Imran Khan's message", and that he would be meeting "all friends of the party".

Afridi had earlier hinted that Karachi would be his next destination as part of efforts to galvanise PTI workers nationwide following the launch of the street movement.

His announcement comes in the wake of a turbulent Lahore visit, during which he attempted to address supporters at Liberty Chowk but was unable to do so after police sealed off all access roads by setting up pickets.

During the same visit, Afridi addressed PTI lawmakers at the Punjab Assembly, an appearance marked by altercations between members of his entourage and security officials. Several heated exchanges between PTI leaders and journalists were also witnessed.

He was barred from entering the cantonment area to meet party leaders and was also prevented from visiting the food street, which had been shut down ahead of his arrival. Afridi later went to Zaman Park amid heavy police deployment, while reports also emerged of PTI supporters being detained during the tour.

On Monday, Afridi formally lodged a complaint with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, objecting to the treatment he received during the Lahore visit.

In his letter, the K-P chief minister said the Punjab government's adoption of an extraordinary and excessive security posture, including sweeping detentions and visible enforcement theatrics, was "a message of intimidation rather than cooperation".