RAWALPINDI: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sohail Afridi staged a sit-in at Adiala Road with his workers, after he was stopped from meeting the jailed former prime minister and founder PTI leader Imran Khan.
Due to the sit-in massive traffic jam had occurred at the Adiala Jail, creating inconvenience for the public.
PTI leader Junaid Akbar, while talking to the media near Rawalpindi Dahgal checkpoint during the sit-in, said that if permission is not given for the meeting even today, he will advise the party to distrust the courts.
Junaid Akbar remarked, “If the courts cannot deliver justice, universities should be opened in them so that someone benefits.” He added that he would move a resolution in the assembly declaring that the courts have failed to deliver justice.
He said, “If the courts’ decisions are not accepted, we must reconsider our position. We came for the meeting on the court’s orders, but the police claim they have not received any directive yet.”
Junaid Akbar further stated that if the federal government cooperates, the provincial government would also “move two steps forward.” He questioned, “If the state does not allow a provincial chief minister to meet his leader, how can cooperation be possible?”
He said institutions should work jointly with the province. “The federation cannot demand cooperation by force,” he added. Akbar clarified that if the chief minister is denied the meeting, he still holds the authority to form the provincial cabinet.
HIGH COURT ORDERS
Earlier in the day, the Islamabad High Court had directed the Superintendent of Adiala Jail to arrange meetings between Imran Khan and the individuals listed by Salman Akram Raja.
Imran Khan’s lawyer said that despite submitting names in accordance with the court’s earlier decision, permission is repeatedly denied. “People not included in our submitted list are often added instead,” he claimed.
At this point, the Superintendent of Adiala Jail informed the court that regular meetings are held, but no list had been received from Salman Akram Raja.
Later, the court ordered the jail authorities to implement the March 24 directive regarding Imran Khan’s meetings in jail. The court instructed that those named by Salman Akram Raja be allowed to meet Imran Khan.
