Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi delivers a video message on January 27, 2026.
PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday said PTI workers were present on the streets without an official protest call from Imran Khan’s party as opposition lawmakers continued their sit-in outside Parliament, demanding treatment for the imprisoned PTI founder under the supervision of his trusted doctors.
Amid these protests, the KP CM, which belongs to the PTI, issued a statement clarifying that the party’s strategy was clear: it wanted to limit the proposed protest in Parliament.
According to Afridi, the lawmakers, led by Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Allama Nasir Abbas, are staging a peaceful sit-in outside Parliament. “Although several parliamentarians have been arrested, the sit-in continues and no official call for protest has been made,” he said.
He said that the fact that no flower pot was damaged proves that the PTI protest is civilized, constitutional and in accordance with law.
He warned that if an attempt was made to infiltrate the protesters with disruptive elements to create chaos, the responsibility would fall squarely on the government. Afridi said the party is currently going through a difficult phase as Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi are unjustly incarcerated.
“Even though workers may be emotional, they have been asked to exercise patience and restraint. PTI is not a mob but a disciplined political party with a clear chain of command. Any decision regarding protests or future strategy will be taken only by the leadership appointed by Imran Khan,” he said.
He said that when an official appeal was made, the response from the public would be such that no force would be able to stop it. However, he stressed that the current issue is only about Imran Khan’s health and not political maneuvering.
Meanwhile, an alliance of opposition parties – TTAP – announced on Monday that it would continue its sit-in in Parliament until its demands are met. After a meeting, PTI chief Asad Qaiser said consultations were underway regarding the next course of action.
He said the alliance had decided to continue the sit-in until its demands were met. “Our demand is that the personal doctor of the PTI founder be allowed to meet him,” he said.
Following the opposition alliance’s decision, the sit-in in front of Parliament resumed, with parliamentarians chanting slogans at the main entrance.
Earlier, during a consultative meeting, members expressed serious concerns over a propaganda campaign on social media and issues raised by the PTI founder’s sisters.
Some members questioned whether the party would be led by Imran’s sister Aleema Khan and the PTI founder’s family, or by the political committee.
