RAWALPINDI: Sohail Afridi, the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has left Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi after prison authorities denied him permission to meet with PTI leader Imran Khan, despite the Islamabad High Court’s (IHC) directive to facilitate such meetings.
Earlier today, the IHC ordered the superintendent of Adiala Jail to allow PTI leaders, including Afridi, to meet with Imran Khan to discuss policy issues and the formation of the new provincial government. The court’s decision followed petitions filed by several PTI leaders requesting access to Imran.
The three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar and including Justices Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Azam Khan, emphasized that the jail authorities must comply with the court’s directive issued on March 24 to enable meetings with the PTI founder.
Upon arrival at Adiala Jail, Afridi’s convoy was stopped at Dahgal checkpoint by police. He staged a brief protest outside the jail premises, demanding that the court’s orders be implemented. Addressing reporters, Afridi expressed his desire to meet Imran and stated he would wait for instructions from the PTI leader, even if the meeting was not granted.
He stated, “My leader favors dialogue. The people of KP have supported PTI’s ideology and policies. It is my right to safeguard the public mandate and seek guidance from our leader.”
It is worth noting that in March, the same bench had permitted bi-weekly meetings with Imran Khan, scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, under specific SOPs. However, the court had also strictly prohibited any media interaction following these meetings, ruling that participants could not speak to the press afterward.Imran Khan has been in custody since August 2023 after being convicted in the Toshakhana case, one of numerous cases filed against him since his removal from office in April 2022. He faces multiple charges, including corruption and terrorism-related allegations.
