LAHORE: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, who arrived in Lahore earlier today with PTI leaders and workers, led a rally at Liberty Chowk in the provincial capital.
Afridi arrived in Lahore to spearhead PTI‘s plans to launch a street movement and to meet the party’s local leadership.
As of 11:43pm, PTI workers and supporters were participating in the rally, with the KP CM joining them in sloganeering. The PTI posted a video showing CM Afridi amid a crowd of supporters raising his fist and chanting slogans.
At 10:18pm, the PTI’s Lahore chapter posted a video on X showing CM Afridi leaning out of a car and sloganeering, while supporters showered his vehicle with flowers. KP Minister for Higher Education and Local Government Meena Khan Afridi could also be seen chanting slogans.
Another video posted at 10:37 showed the KP CM mingling with crowds of supporters chanting slogans. PTI founder Imran Khan’s sisters, Aleema Khan and Noreen Khan Niazi are also present at Liberty Chowk.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja wrote in an earlier post on X at 9:32pm that he and CM Afridi were at Liberty Chowk, but the Punjab Police were “blocking their path”.
Earlier, visiting PTI members, including Meena Khan, were involved in a fracas with guards at the Punjab Assembly.
A video of the scuffle was shared by the PTI at 8:42 PM, showing pushing and shoving within a crowd that included Meena Khan, KP CM’s aide Shafiullah Jan, and guards, along with people shouting.
CM Afridi addresses PTI lawmakers in Punjab Assembly
The KP CM addressed PTI lawmakers during his visit to the Punjab Assembly, expressing gratitude to the people of Punjab for their hospitality, but highlighting his treatment by the police during the group’s journey to Lahore.
“Today, the Punjab Police were rude to our workers at Chakri Interchange, Bhera, Sargodha and Mandi Bahauddin,” he said. “Our workers, our parliamentarians, our leaders — they were harassed and arrested. This cannot be condemned enough.”
CM Afridi assailed the federal government for failure to handle the economy, brain drain and declining industrial growth.
“Farmers are being driven to suicide. And what are their priorities? Making sure the PTI cannot hold rallies, stopping Imran Khan from meeting his sisters and arresting our workers,” he stated.
