- Aasiya Niaz
- Today
CM KP Sohail Afridi arrives in Karachi, greeted warmly by Sindh minister
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- Web Desk
- Today
WEB DESK: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi arrived in Karachi on Friday for a three-day political visit aimed at energizing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) street movement. His arrival was marked by both formal protocol and underlying political friction.
A Welcome with Contrasting Reception
Upon landing, CM Afridi was officially welcomed at the airport by Sindh’s Labour Minister, Saeed Ghani, representing the provincial government. In a gesture of traditional hospitality, Minister Ghani presented Afridi with a Sindhi Ajrak and cap. Simultaneously, a large crowd of PTI workers and supporters gathered at the airport to greet their leader, creating a dual reception of state ceremony and partisan rallying.
Controversy and Allegations Preceding the Visit
The visit’s commencement was preceded by allegations from PTI officials. Party spokespersons claimed that Sindh police had dismantled tents and a reception camp set up outside the PTI’s Insaf Secretariat in Karachi and had initially sealed the party office. PTI spokesperson Mohammed Ali Bozdar alleged the removal was an attempt to disrupt preparations, though he later clarified that while the camp was dismantled, the office itself was not sealed. He stated that after discussions, police and provincial officials assured the party they could proceed with their gathering provided roads were not blocked.
Packed Agenda Focused on Mobilisation
Chief Minister Afridi stated he was carrying a message from the party’s founding leadership and outlined a packed schedule. The key public event is planned to be a major rally at Mazar-e-Quaid on Sunday, which he vowed would be historic in scale. His itinerary includes meetings with PTI leadership, lawyers, traders at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and journalists at the Karachi Press Club. He also plans to visit incarcerated PTI workers and lead street protests in various districts. A meeting with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah is also on the agenda, pending confirmation.
The visit is seen as a significant effort to reignite the party’s campaign in Sindh and follows a similarly contentious trip to Lahore last month, which the PTI claimed was obstructed by logistical hurdles imposed by the Punjab administration.
