KP CM Sohail Afridi Seeks Court Permission to Meet Imran Khan in Adiala Jail.
Afridi Moves Court After Denied Meeting
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC), requesting permission to meet PTI founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail.
Afridi, elected as CM earlier this week, was denied access to the former prime minister during his visit on Thursday. Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August 2023 in a £190 million corruption case and faces pending trials under the Anti-Terrorism Act linked to the May 9 protests.
Afridi Cites Constitutional Responsibility
According to Afridi, the meeting is crucial for the formation of his provincial cabinet and for receiving “guidance and instructions” on urgent provincial matters.
In his writ petition, Afridi argued that as chief minister, he holds both a legal and moral duty to consult his party leader. The petition names the Interior Ministry secretary, the Punjab Home Department secretary, the Inspector General of Punjab Prisons, and the Superintendent of Adiala Jail as respondents.
Afridi’s legal counsel, Syed Ali Bukhari, stated that official letters requesting the meeting were sent on October 15, 2025, and were “duly received” by both the Interior Ministry and the Punjab Home Department. However, Afridi received no official response.
Letter to CJP Yahya Afridi
Separately, the KP CM also wrote to Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi, requesting his assistance in arranging a supervised meeting at Adiala Jail.
In the letter, Afridi emphasized that such meetings are “necessary in the public interest,” especially for discussing matters related to law and order, economic challenges, and federal-provincial relations.
Afridi pointed out that Punjab had recently halted inter-provincial wheat trade, which further highlighted the need for policy coordination. He added that consulting Imran Khan was essential for ensuring that KP’s governance reflected the public mandate.
Afridi’s Statement on X
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Afridi apologized for missing a federal meeting on agriculture and Afghan refugees, saying he could not participate without consulting Imran first.
“Until I meet [Imran Khan] and receive policy guidelines, attending such a meeting would be an insult to the people’s mandate,” he wrote.
