HYDERABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Saturday reached Jamshoro district as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) caravan continued its journey toward Hyderabad to mobilise public support for a planned nationwide street movement.
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CM Afridi arrived in Karachi a day earlier on a four-day visit aimed at building momentum ahead of PTI’s February 8 protests, marking two years since the general elections that the opposition claims were rigged.
Sindh United Party (SUP) President Syed Zain Shah welcomed the KP chief minister at the G.M. Syed Edifice in Jamshoro. In a Facebook post, the SUP called for the release of “all political prisoners,” including PTI founder Imran Khan, Ali Wazir, Mahrang Baloch and others.
Around 2pm, PTI shared videos confirming Afridi’s arrival in Jamshoro, showing him leading slogans in support of Imran Khan. The party also released details of his Hyderabad itinerary, which includes an address at the local press club, participation in Insaf Students Federation activities, and involvement in street movement events.
PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh said the caravan would stop in Kotri before proceeding to Hyderabad. The party also shared footage of PTI Hyderabad Youth Wing members chanting slogans as they prepared to welcome the KP chief minister at the Hyderabad Insaf House.
However, controversy emerged over a planned address to the High Court Bar Association (HCBA) in Hyderabad. The HCBA clarified that its executive committee had not approved Afridi’s visit, stating that an invitation letter issued by the bar’s general secretary was sent without authorisation.
Before departing Karachi, Sheikh said the response to Afridi’s visit had been overwhelming and expressed confidence that Hyderabad would also witness strong public participation. Speaking to the media, CM Afridi thanked Karachi residents for their reception and urged them to ensure the success of a public gathering planned at Mazar-i-Quaid on Sunday.
“We have to send a message to the world that Karachi belongs to Imran Khan,” Afridi said, stressing the importance of the upcoming rally.
Earlier, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, addressing supporters at Hassan Square, called on Sindh residents to join the movement, describing it as a struggle for freedom and democratic rights. He urged the public to raise their voices against the imprisonment of PTI leaders and what he termed political repression.
A PTI-issued schedule shows that Afridi will attend the Mazar-i-Quaid gathering on Sunday, meet traders’ representatives in Karachi, and hold talks with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Monday.
