KP CM Sohail Afridi in Lahore as PTI’s Punjab push meets tighter curbs

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi travelled to Lahore on Monday to meet the family of a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker who was killed in the city, as tensions between the opposition party and Punjab authorities mounted ahead of a planned September 27 protest in Islamabad.

Afridi had originally been scheduled to travel to Faisalabad as part of a PTI mobilization campaign across Punjab. He changed his itinerary following the death of PTI worker Ishtiaq Ahmed in Lahore and decided to visit his family instead.

Afridi had earlier said he would visit Ishtiaq’s home before setting out the party’s strategy for what PTI has described as a peaceful street movement across Punjab.

His arrival came as the Punjab government imposed restrictions under Section 144 from September 13 to September 17, citing concerns over public order and the safety of life and property.

The measures prohibit public gatherings, processions and assemblies of five or more people in public places, including roads, highways and open spaces, as well as the carrying or display of weapons.

The restrictions do not apply to funeral prayers, burials, prayers at mosques and other places of worship, marriages, courts, government institutions or officially authorized events.

Afridi confronts police over road closures

During his visit, Afridi was seen questioning police officials over barricades and checkpoints erected along roads in Lahore. The KP chief minister argued with police personnel and asked them to clear the route as security was tightened around his movement.

The heightened security measures come as PTI increases its mobilization ahead of the September 27 protest in Islamabad. The party says the demonstration will be peaceful, while authorities have warned of potential law-and-order challenges.

Afridi’s Punjab campaign was originally planned as a 13-city caravan. It was to enter the province from Daud Khel and pass through Mianwali, Wan Bachran, Quaidabad, Joharabad, Khushab, Shahpur, Sargodha, Lalian and Chiniot before reaching Faisalabad. The caravan was then expected to travel towards Lahore, with a stop in Sheikhupura.

His decision to travel directly to Lahore has brought the provincial capital into focus as PTI steps up its latest mobilization drive.

The visit also followed an Islamabad High Court ruling on Sunday on a petition concerning the September 27 protest. The court directed chief ministers to ensure that government resources and official machinery were not used for political activities and observed that political parties and their leaders had no lawful right to occupy public roads and highways.

PTI workers arrested, 17 receive MPO orders in Kasur

PTI’s mobilization has coincided with arrests and detentions of party workers in several parts of Punjab.

The Punjab government has issued Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) orders against 17 PTI workers in Kasur, declaring them a threat to public peace, according to the provincial government.

PTI has alleged that dozens of its workers have been arrested across Punjab ahead of the September 27 protest.

The party previously said 54 workers had been detained in six districts of southern Punjab, including three in Dera Ghazi Khan, eight in Rajanpur, five in Vehari, 10 in Layyah, 18 in Multan and 10 in Khanewal.

PTI leaders have described the arrests and detentions as an attempt to prevent the party from mobilizing supporters for the Islamabad protest.

The party has also alleged that law enforcement agencies have targeted the families of workers who avoided arrest.

In one such allegation, the daughter of former PTI leader Mian Mahmood ur Rasheed said police raided her family home and about 25 masked personnel entered the premises. She alleged that the house was vandalized and that her mother was mistreated and suffered an eye injury before becoming semi-conscious.

Meanwhile, senior PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi remains involved in legal proceedings related to cases stemming from the May 9 unrest.

An Anti-Terrorism Court in Lahore on Monday heard Qureshi’s bail application in the Jinnah House attack case. Judge Manzar Ali Gill granted the prosecution more time to produce the case record and adjourned the hearing until September 16.

Qureshi faces several cases linked to the May 9 unrest, including allegations involving attacks on government and military installations in Lahore. He has denied wrongdoing. He has previously secured relief or been acquitted in some May 9 cases, while other proceedings remain pending.

PTI says movement is aimed at protecting democratic rights

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has called on the Punjab government to end what he described as harassment and arrests of party workers.

Gohar said the party’s street movement was intended to protect democracy and constitutional rights, and insisted that PTI planned to conduct its activities peacefully and within the law.

He also urged the Punjab government and PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah not to obstruct Afridi’s political activities.

Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Mueen Riaz Qureshi separately criticized the restrictions and alleged that they were being selectively enforced.

Qureshi said authorities could stop or arrest people at their discretion and questioned the basis for taking action against individuals who had not violated the law.

Why is PTI marching to Islamabad?

The September 27 protest is the latest phase of PTI’s nationwide mobilization campaign and comes amid continuing political tensions over the imprisonment of former prime minister and party founder Imran Khan.

PTI has said the protest is primarily aimed at securing Khan’s release. The party is also demanding what its leadership describes as the supremacy of the Constitution, protection of democratic rights and an independent judicial and electoral system.

The party has been organizing public meetings and mobilization drives across the country to build support for the protest, with Afridi playing a prominent role in the campaign.

PTI has said it intends to take the movement to Islamabad peacefully and press the government to address its demands.

The government, meanwhile, has raised concerns about the potential impact of the protest on public order and has taken security and administrative measures ahead of the planned demonstration.