Islamabad/Rawalpindi, October 23, 2025: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi returned from Adiala Jail on Thursday after prison authorities denied him permission to meet Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, despite a directive from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to allow such meetings.
Earlier in the day, an IHC bench headed by Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar, and comprising Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir and Justice Azam Khan, directed the Adiala Jail superintendent to implement the court’s March 24 decision permitting PTI leaders to meet their incarcerated party founder twice a week.
Following the court’s order, CM Afridi arrived at Adiala Jail but was stopped by police at Dahgal checkpoint, just short of the prison. He subsequently staged a brief sit-in outside the facility, demanding enforcement of the IHC’s directives.
Speaking to reporters at the scene, Afridi said he merely wanted to meet his leader to discuss governance matters in KP.
“My leader has always favoured dialogue. The people of KP have voted for his ideology and policy,” he said. “It is my right to protect the public mandate and receive policy guidelines from the Quaid [party founder].”
The court had earlier ruled that such meetings could be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays under prescribed standard operating procedures (SOPs), but prohibited participants from speaking to the media afterward.
Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 after being convicted in the Toshakhana case-I—one of several cases filed against him following his ouster from office in April 2022. He currently faces multiple charges, including corruption and terrorism.
