Peshawar, November 30,2025: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has been kept in isolation in Adiala Jail for nearly a month, claiming that neither he nor his party leaders have been allowed to meet the incarcerated former prime minister.
Addressing a press conference in Peshawar following a parliamentary party meeting, CM Afridi said he was deeply troubled by “disturbing reports” published in international media regarding Imran Khan’s treatment in prison.
“We went to Adiala, but were not allowed to meet even for two minutes. We even approached the high court, but the meeting could not take place,” Afridi told reporters.
The chief minister had staged a 16-hour sit-in outside Adiala Road on November 27 after authorities again barred him from meeting Imran Khan, who has been behind bars since August 2023 following his ouster through a no-confidence vote in April 2022.
Afridi announced that PTI KP leaders would first stage a protest outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC) and then proceed to Adiala Jail. The provincial chapter of the party has already called for a demonstration outside the IHC on December 2 to protest what they describe as the “persistent denial” of lawful access to the PTI founder.
The chief minister termed the restrictions “an attempt to push us towards confrontation,” but maintained that the PTI would not be provoked. He also criticised the federal government for placing his name on the ‘stop list,’ calling it “discriminatory treatment” against a sitting provincial chief minister.
Afridi said the PTI parliamentary party had unanimously decided to participate in the upcoming National Finance Commission (NFC) meeting. He vowed to advocate for KP’s financial rights, especially those of the merged tribal districts.
“Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has not been receiving its due share since 2018,” he said, claiming that the federal government owes the province Rs1,350 billion under various NFC allocations over the past seven years.
The chief minister stressed the importance of unity among all political forces to safeguard KP’s constitutional and financial rights. “Everyone must work together to fight for the province. This struggle requires collective action,” he said.
