KP CM Kicks Off Sindh Visit, Plans Public Rally at Mazar-e-Quaid

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi stated on Friday that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) will hold a public meeting at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi on January 11. The event is part of a street campaign leading up to a major protest call on February 8.

In a message prior to his travel to Sindh—which began today upon his arrival at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport—Chief Minister Afridi stated, “I will hold a rally at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi at 4:30 pm on Sunday. ” The CM declared his intention to deliver the message of imprisoned PTI founder Imran Khan to every corner of Sindh, calling on the public to support the party’s street movement. “We will hold the largest rally in Karachi’s history,” he claimed.

Saeed Ghani of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) greeted the KP CM at the airport and presented him with a traditional Sindhi topi and Ajrak.

However, the district administration has noted that the PTI has not yet received formal permission for the gathering. Officials stated that permission would only be granted once security clearance is obtained. This follows a formal request by Karachi Region PTI President Raja Azhar to the Deputy Commissioner of District East to hold the meeting at Bagh-e-Jinnah, pledging that the event would be peaceful.

Itinerary and Political Context

According to the CM’s communication assistant, Shafi Jan, Afridi’s visit is “crucial to accelerating the street movement.” His schedule includes:

• Saturday: A visit to Hyderabad to address the Bar Association and Press Club, and attendance at the ISF Convention.
• Sunday: The main rally at Mazar-e-Quaid.
• Monday: A meeting with Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah, a visit to the Sindh High Court Bar, and a meeting with party leadership at Insaf House.
• Prison Visits: Visits to jail facilities in District South, Korangi, and Malir to interact with inmates.

The opposition alliance, Tehreek-e-Tahaffuz-e-Ayeen-Pakistan (TTAP), which includes PTI, has called for these protests to mark the second anniversary of the February 8, 2024, elections. Other leaders, including Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, are currently touring Lahore for similar purposes.

Government Response

The visit follows a controversial trip to Punjab, where authorities accused Afridi of bringing unauthorized individuals into the Punjab Assembly. Addressing the current visit, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon stated that the provincial government would provide the CM with appropriate protocol and security.

“The KP CM is free to travel and engage in political activities, provided he adheres to the law,” Memon said. He emphasized that while ideological differences exist, the government would provide space for public gatherings as long as they do not disrupt the public or violate legal boundaries.