Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi arrived in Karachi on Friday for a three-day political visit aimed at energising Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s street movement, with his arrival marked by a mix of official protocol and political friction.
At the airport, Afridi was formally received by Sindh Labour Minister Saeed Ghani, who represented the provincial government and welcomed the chief minister with a traditional Sindhi ajrak and cap. At the same time, a large number of PTI workers and supporters gathered to greet their leader, turning the reception into a show of party strength alongside the official welcome.
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The visit began amid controversy, as PTI leaders alleged that Sindh police had dismantled tents and a reception camp set up outside the party’s Insaf Secretariat in Karachi. PTI spokesperson Mohammed Ali Bozdar claimed the move was intended to disrupt preparations for the visit. He later clarified that while the camp was removed, the party office itself was not sealed, adding that after discussions, authorities assured PTI that its activities could continue as long as roads were not blocked.
Speaking to the media, Chief Minister Afridi said he was carrying a message from the party’s founding leadership and outlined a busy programme focused on mobilisation. He announced that a major public rally would be held at Mazar-e-Quaid on Sunday, which he described as a historic event in the making.
During his stay, Afridi is scheduled to meet PTI leaders, lawyers, and members of the business community at the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, as well as journalists at the Karachi Press Club. He also plans to visit jailed PTI workers and lead street protests in different districts of the city. A meeting with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah is also expected, though it has yet to be confirmed.
The visit is being seen as a key effort to revive PTI’s political campaign in Sindh and comes after a similarly contentious trip to Lahore last month, during which the party alleged that the Punjab administration created logistical hurdles to obstruct its activities.
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