PESHAWAR: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has announced holding a public gathering at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi on January 11 as part of its street movement ahead of the February 8 protest call, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said on Friday.
In a statement issued ahead of his Sindh visit, Afridi said he would lead a rally at Mazar-e-Quaid at 4:30pm on Sunday. The KP chief minister arrived in Karachi earlier in the day, landing at Jinnah International Airport.
Afridi said he would take the message of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan to “every nook and corner of Sindh” and urged the people of the province to extend full support to the party’s street movement. “We will hold the largest rally in Karachi’s history,” he claimed.
Upon arrival, Afridi was received by Pakistan Peoples Party leader Saeed Ghani, who presented him with a Sindhi topi and ajrak at the airport.
However, the district administration said that no permission had yet been granted to PTI to hold a public rally at the venue. Officials said approval would only be issued after receiving security clearance.
KP CM’s aide on information Shafi Jan said Afridi would also meet Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday, January 12. He said the chief minister would hold meetings with party leadership at Insaf House and visit the press club during his stay in Sindh.
“A big rally will be held at Mazar-e-Quaid on January 11. The KP CM’s visit to Sindh is important to further accelerate the street movement,” Jan said.
The PTI has formally sought permission to hold a public meeting in Karachi’s District East. Karachi Region PTI President Raja Azhar wrote to the deputy commissioner, requesting approval for a gathering at Bagh-e-Jinnah near the Quaid-e-Azam mausoleum and assuring that the rally would remain peaceful and comply with the code of conduct.
The former ruling party is part of the opposition alliance Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-Pakistan, which has announced street mobilisation linked to the second anniversary of the February 8, 2024 elections.
As part of his visit, Afridi is also scheduled to visit prison facilities in Karachi’s District South, Korangi and Malir to meet inmates. He will travel to Hyderabad on Saturday, where he will address the Hyderabad Bar and press club and attend an ISF convention and party meetings.
Jan said Afridi would also meet Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen leaders, address the Sindh High Court Bar on Monday and return to Peshawar the same day.
The visit follows Afridi’s recent trip to Punjab, which was marred by controversy over a ruckus at the Punjab Assembly. While authorities claimed unrelated and convicted individuals entered the premises alongside him, Afridi protested what he described as ill-treatment and raised the issue with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
Meanwhile, speaking on Geo News programme Geo Pakistan, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon said the provincial government would facilitate Afridi’s visit and ensure his free movement.
“KP CM will have full liberty to go wherever he wants and take part in political activities,” Memon said, adding that due security and protocol would be provided. He noted that political activities should be conducted within the law and warned against actions that could create public nuisance.
Memon said criticism was part of politics but stressed that it should not lead to intolerance.