Imran Khan Held in Isolation Since Nov 4, Alleges KP Chief Minister

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has alleged that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan has been held in complete isolation at Adiala jail since November 4, raising serious concerns over the former prime minister’s treatment in custody.

Speaking at a press conference in Peshawar on Sunday following a parliamentary party meeting, the KP chief minister said he was alarmed by “troubling reports” circulating in international media regarding Imran Khan’s condition.

“We went to Adiala, but were not allowed to meet even for two minutes. We even approached the high court, but the meeting could not take place,” he said.

Afridi recalled staging a 16-hour sit-in outside Adiala Road on November 27 after jail authorities denied him permission to meet the PTI founder, who has been imprisoned since August 2023 following his ouster via a no-confidence motion in April 2022.

The chief minister announced that the PTI leadership would proceed to Adiala jail after holding a protest outside the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The PTI’s KP chapter has already planned a demonstration on December 2 to protest what it says is the persistent refusal of authorities to allow a meeting with Imran Khan.

Afridi described the continued denial of access as an effort to “push us towards confrontation”, but stressed that the PTI would refrain from retaliatory measures. He also criticised the decision to place his name on the “stop list”, calling it “discriminatory treatment” toward a sitting provincial chief minister.

The KP CM said the parliamentary party had resolved to participate in the upcoming National Finance Commission (NFC) meeting, reaffirming that the province would continue to press for its constitutionally mandated financial share.

“We will fight for the rights of the merged districts and for the province,” he stated, noting that KP had not received its rightful share in the NFC Award since 2018. Afridi said the federal government owed KP Rs1,350 billion over the past seven years under the NFC formula.

He emphasised the importance of unity among political forces to secure the province’s rights. “Everyone must work together to fight for the province,” he said, adding that the struggle for KP’s NFC share and financial autonomy required collective action.