Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking permission to meet former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Adiala Jail. Afridi was denied a meeting during his recent visit to the prison, where Imran Khan is serving a corruption sentence and faces other legal cases. Afridi claims the meeting is vital for consulting Imran on urgent provincial matters.
Afridi stated that as KP CM, he is legally and morally obliged to seek Imran’s guidance on governance and the formation of his cabinet. He informed the Punjab government and federal authorities of his visit plans but received no response. He also reached out to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who did not facilitate the meeting.
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The petition names officials from the Interior Ministry, Punjab Home Department, and Adiala Jail as respondents. Afridi had earlier submitted official requests to meet Imran on October 15, which were acknowledged but not acted upon. Additionally, he wrote to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to arrange supervised meetings with Imran in jail.
Afridi emphasized the critical nature of the meeting due to the province’s pressing issues like law and order, economic challenges, and inter-provincial trade disruptions. He also apologized for missing a federal meeting on agriculture and Afghan refugees, saying he cannot attend without consulting Imran first.
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Afridi was elected KP CM amid controversy, with the Peshawar High Court affirming the constitutionality of his election. The court ordered the KP Governor to administer Afridi’s oath after opposition walkouts and uncertainty about his predecessor’s resignation.