Pakistan’s KP chief minister visits Karachi to rally support for PTI street movement

Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi arrived in Karachi on Friday for a three-day tour of Sindh aimed at mobilizing support for his party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), ahead of planned street demonstrations calling for the release of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The visit comes as PTI, part of the opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-Pakistan (TTAP), seeks to mobilize public support for street demonstrations linked to the second anniversary of Pakistan’s February 8, 2024, elections. Party leaders have framed the events as a show of strength in response to ongoing political restrictions.

Afridi’s Sindh tour follows earlier visits to Punjab, where he engaged with party workers and local leaders to strengthen PTI’s support network across Pakistan. The Karachi leg of the trip includes meetings with party leadership, business figures and planned public gatherings to energize supporters in the country’s largest city.

Party officials said the tour is part of a broader strategy to energize urban support bases across Pakistan’s key provinces.

On arrival at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport, Afridi was greeted by Saeed Ghani, Sindh’s Labor Minister, who presented him with a traditional Sindhi cap and ajrak, ceremonial symbols of the province’s culture.

Footage showed a large crowd of party workers welcoming Afridi. The KP CM's three-day itinerary includes meetings with PTI leadership, business figures, lawyers and a planned discussion with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

Afridi is also scheduled to interact with traders at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry and hold a press briefing at the Karachi Press Club. Street mobilizations are planned in South, Korangi and Malir districts.

The visit will culminate in a large public rally at Mazar-e-Quaid on Sunday, scheduled for 4.30pm, which Afridi described as potentially “the biggest gathering in Karachi’s history.”

Sindh authorities initially denied permission, citing concerns over traffic congestion and public safety, but the decision was later reversed by Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah, who said the rally would be allowed. Shah added that authorities would monitor the event to prevent any law and order violations.

PTI Karachi President Raja Azhar confirmed that the Mazar-e-Quaid administration required a PKR 2.5 million pay order along with a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the Sindh government. The amount includes PKR 2 million for the official challan and PKR 500,000 as a security deposit. Party officials later confirmed that the payment was submitted in accordance with local regulations.

The CM’s visit highlights PTI’s efforts to rally support in Sindh’s major cities, as the party navigates a challenging environment amid government pressure and restrictions.