Karachi, January 9, 2026: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Friday evening visited the Karachi Press Club (KPC), where he met members of the city’s journalist community during his three-day visit to Sindh as part of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) street mobilisation campaign.
Afridi’s convoy took nearly six hours to reach the press club from the airport, accompanied by a large number of PTI supporters. Speaking informally to journalists, the KP chief minister compared his reception in Karachi with his recent visit to Lahore, remarking that “Karachi has been more welcoming than Lahore.”
He praised Sindh’s political culture, saying the democratic traditions of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Benazir Bhutto were still alive in the province. Afridi said his visit to Karachi was aimed at preparing for PTI’s street movement, adding that his Punjab tour had been a “bad experience.”
“Wherever we went to eat food in Punjab, the lights of that area were turned off,” he claimed.
Afridi said PTI had received verbal approval from the Sindh government to hold a rally on Sunday, though written permission was still awaited. He reiterated that PTI founder Imran Khan was imprisoned not for power, but for the independence of the judiciary, true democracy and freedom of expression.
“He has been treated in an inhumane manner in jail and kept in the same place where terrorists are held,” the KP chief minister alleged.
Responding to questions, Afridi said he saw reflections of the leadership of Benazir Bhutto and Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Sindh’s governance and expressed satisfaction over it.
On the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Afridi referred to a peace jirga held in the provincial assembly, where all political parties agreed on 15 points. He said military operations were not the issue, but conducting them without consensus would amount to “thuggery.”
“Decisions cannot be made behind closed doors. If tribal elders and local leadership are not taken on board as stakeholders, there will never be peace,” he said, questioning guarantees that peace would return after military operations. He added that he would attend a meeting on terrorism if called by the prime minister on a single-point agenda.
“The solution to terrorism lies in joint decision-making and implementation by all political parties and the provincial and federal governments,” he said.
Arrival in Karachi
Afridi arrived in Karachi earlier in the day after departing from Islamabad amid flight delays. Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani received him at the airport, where the two were seen embracing. Ghani also presented the KP chief minister with a Sindhi cap and ajrak.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja accompanied Afridi. Videos shared by PTI on social media showed large crowds welcoming him at the airport and along Sharea Faisal. Afridi later shared footage of himself with supporters chanting slogans in favour of Imran Khan.
The convoy made a brief stop at Mazar-i-Quaid before reaching the Karachi Press Club late in the evening.
PTI alleges removal of reception tents
Meanwhile, PTI spokesperson Mohammad Ali Bozdar alleged that police dismantled tents set up outside the party’s Karachi headquarters near Nursery for Afridi’s reception. He clarified that the Insaf Secretariat was not sealed.
Bozdar said police and Sindh government officials had assured the party that the tents would be returned and that PTI would be allowed to hold its gathering, provided roads were not blocked.
Rally at Mazar-i-Quaid
Afridi announced that PTI would hold a public gathering at Mazar-i-Quaid on Sunday at 4:30pm, calling on citizens to participate. “We will hold the biggest gathering in Karachi’s history,” he claimed.
Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah said authorities had decided to allow the rally, adding that peaceful political activity could not be stopped. However, he warned that action could be taken if laws were violated. He said permission was being granted for rallies at designated locations, including Jinnah Ground, in accordance with the law.
Earlier, the Korangi deputy commissioner’s office had cited traffic congestion and public inconvenience in denying permission for a rally in Qayyumabad.
Visit agenda
During his three-day visit, the KP chief minister is scheduled to meet PTI leaders, lawyers and business figures, and is also expected to hold a meeting with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. The visit aims to energise PTI’s street movement in Karachi and other cities demanding the release of Imran Khan.
Afridi will travel to Hyderabad on January 10, where he plans to address the press, meet journalists, intellectuals and farmers, and participate in street protests. However, the Hyderabad High Court Bar Association has clarified that it did not grant permission for him to address or visit the bar, distancing itself from an invitation letter issued earlier by its general secretary in a personal capacity.
PTI leaders in Hyderabad have alleged police raids at the residences of party activists, though police officials have denied making any arrests.
Last month, Afridi’s visit to Lahore for the same campaign was marked by difficulties, prompting him to write to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to complain about his treatment.
