The sit-in staged by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi at Adiala Jail’s Factory checkpost in Rawalpindi ended after lasting since Thursday.
Afridi, who had been demanding a meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan, later reached the Islamabad High Court to raise the issue directly with the chief justice. However, Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar later refused to meet him.
Speaking to the media upon arrival at the IHC, he said that despite a clear court order, he was still not being allowed to meet the PTI founder. “Our judiciary is not getting its orders implemented. I will tell the chief justice that his order is not being followed. Protest is the last option left,” he said, adding that he will file a formal request for the meeting.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan's sister Aleema Khan has filed a contempt of court petition over the failure to allow a meeting with the PTI founder. The petition states that the Islamabad High Court’s March 24 order has not been implemented and requests that those responsible for non-compliance be punished for contempt of court.
The superintendent of Adiala Jail, the federal interior secretary, and the Punjab home secretary have been made respondents in the petition.
Talks with jail administration
Earlier, negotiations continued between the KP chief minister’s team and the Adiala Jail administration. The talks were held in a private building near the Factory checkpost, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Participants included the assistant superintendent of prisons, the chief minister’s CSO, police representatives, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister Meena Khan Afridi. During the meeting, the PTI demanded a meeting of CM Afridi and a PTI leader with the party founder.
Sources say the KP delegation sought multiple assurances, including:
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A written explanation for why the meeting is being denied
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Clarity and guarantees regarding the PTI founder’s health
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Approval for a meeting involving the chief minister and a party leader
‘World has seen what is happening with KP CM’
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi reiterated that all required procedures had been fulfilled, yet he was still being prevented from meeting the PTI founder. “The world has seen what is happening with the chief minister of a province,” he remarked, calling the situation unprecedented and deeply concerning.
Also Read: KP CM holds sit-in near Adiala after denial of meeting with Imran Khan
He added that despite compliance with all formalities, no access had been granted. His team has now also demanded a written justification from the authorities during the ongoing dialogue.
Negotiations amid rising political pressure
Talks between the KP chief minister’s representatives and the Adiala Jail administration remained underway throughout the night. The situation drew national attention as tensions rose between the provincial leadership and prison authorities over compliance with court directives.
On Thursday, Afridi reached near Adiala Jail to meet the PTI founder, but police barred him from advancing. When the police prevented him from proceeding towards the jail, Afridi sat at the Factory checkpoint and commenced a sit-in.
MNA Shahid Khattak, MPA Meena Khan Afridi, and other party leaders accompanied him. Security arrangements along Adiala Road were extremely tight, with additional police deployed at Dahgal and Gorakhpur checkpoints.
Speaking to the media, Afridi said reports of Khan’s ill health were causing increasing concern. He added that the party sought a meeting to confirm the leader’s condition and to allay public worry. He warned that if concern continued to rise, it could trigger nationwide unrest. “We are here. If we are denied the meeting, we will consider our next steps,” he said.
