PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has accused former prime minister Nawaz Sharif of preventing jailed PTI founder Imran Khan from receiving treatment at Shifa International Hospital, while announcing a major protest for September 27.
Addressing PTI’s street movement gathering at Sawari Chowk in Buner, Afridi alleged that the government had failed to implement the Supreme Court’s directions regarding Imran Khan’s medical treatment and accused the PML-N leadership of disregarding the court’s order.
“Nawaz Sharif did not allow Imran Khan to be treated at Shifa Hospital,” Afridi claimed, pointing to the fact that Nawaz’s daughter Maryam Nawaz is chief minister of Punjab while his brother Shehbaz Sharif heads the federal government.
The allegations made by Afridi were not accompanied by evidence establishing that Nawaz Sharif personally intervened in decisions regarding Khan’s medical treatment.
The Supreme Court had ordered on August 18 that Khan be shifted to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad for examination and treatment by a multidisciplinary medical board, with his personal physician and family involved in the process.
Khan was subsequently taken from Adiala Jail to Shifa International Hospital for medical examination before being returned to prison. PTI later raised objections over the duration and circumstances of the hospital visit.
Sohail Afridi announces September 27 protest
Afridi also used his Buner address to intensify PTI’s mobilisation for September 27, saying supporters would not return “empty-handed” from the planned movement.
He claimed around four million people would come out to press their case and described September 27 as a decisive day for the party’s campaign.
“We will not be afraid of bullets or guns,” Afridi told supporters, adding that the movement would seek what he described as “real freedom”.
The chief minister used particularly strong rhetoric, saying PTI supporters faced a choice between achieving “real freedom” and accepting martyrdom, with “no third option”.
Afridi said PTI would support judges who, in his words, uphold justice and the Constitution, while accusing the government of considering itself above constitutional and legal constraints.
He maintained that Imran Khan would eventually be released through public pressure and described the former prime minister as a leader with particularly strong support among young Pakistanis.
KP CM targets federal, Punjab governments
Afridi also criticised the federal and Punjab governments, calling them “fake governments” and accusing them of coming to power through a stolen public mandate.
He alleged that the authorities had disregarded the Supreme Court’s directions concerning Khan’s treatment and accused the current political leadership of failing to respect the Constitution and law.
The chief minister further claimed there was one system of justice for powerful people and another for ordinary citizens, saying PTI would oppose decisions it considered contrary to public interests.
He also levelled allegations of corruption against the government. These claims were made as part of Afridi’s political speech and were not independently substantiated in the address.
Afridi urged supporters not to be distracted from PTI’s campaign and said party workers should be prepared to make sacrifices similar to those he said Khan was making while imprisoned.
Afridi urges youth to join movement
The KP chief minister placed particular emphasis on younger PTI supporters, saying young people constituted more than 90 per cent of the crowds at many of his political gatherings.
He described Pakistan’s youth as the country’s future and said they would ultimately have to take responsibility for its leadership and decision-making.
Afridi portrayed Khan as essential to Pakistan’s political and economic future, arguing that the former prime minister could strengthen national sovereignty, improve the economy and restore public confidence in state institutions.
The Buner speech comes amid continuing political tensions between PTI and the federal government over Khan’s imprisonment, medical care and legal cases.
With PTI building momentum towards September 27, Afridi’s remarks signal that the party intends to place both Khan’s treatment and his continued incarceration at the centre of its latest political mobilisation.
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