K-P CM threatens sit-in outside NA

Warns against continued restrictions on access to Imran

PESHAWAR:

Piqued by continuous denial of meetings with founder chairman Imran Khan, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Tuesday warned that PTI lawmakers from across the country would stage a sit-in outside the National Assembly on June 10 if restrictions on the party's political activities continued.

Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail after being denied a meeting with the party founder, the chief minister also threatened to block the passage of the federal budget.

He demanded that both he and the provincial adviser on finance be granted access to Imran Khan. He argued that the people of K-P had vested their mandate in Khan and that the provincial government was functioning on the strength of that public trust and political mandate.

He maintained that, in light of this reality, it was both appropriate and necessary for the budget proposals for the upcoming fiscal year to be shared with Imran Khan and for his input to be obtained prior to the finalization of the provincial budget.

The chief minister further announced that a petition would be filed before the Islamabad High Court, seeking permission for a meeting.

The chief minister warned that continued efforts to deny access to Imran Khan and further restrictions on the PTI's political leadership would have serious political consequences.

The chief minister maintained that Imran Khan continues to be held in prolonged solitary confinement and isolation. He called for Imran Khan to receive medical treatment at Shifa International Hospital under the supervision of his personal physicians and in the presence of his family members. He emphasized that the demand was neither unconstitutional nor unlawful, asserting that access to appropriate medical care is a fundamental right.

The chief minister expressed serious concern over the continued denial of access to Imran Khan by his family members and party leadership. He stated that preventing family, party representatives, and personal physicians from meeting Imran Khan raises legitimate concerns and creates the impression that there are attempts to cause him harm.

He further reiterated that Imran Khan remains the undisputed leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and stated that the government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa derives its mandate and legitimacy from his leadership.