• KP CM says workers awaiting instructions from party leadership
• Demands immediate release of Imran and Bushra
• Terms cases against him, other party leaders ‘baseless and fabricated’

MARDAN: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Sunday claimed that he had conveyed a message to Imran Khan in Adiala jail that PTI leaders and workers were ready to march towards D-Chowk for a show of power.

He said that the party activists were awaiting instructions from Mr Khan. However, the chief minister added that consultations would be held with Mehmood Khan Achakzai and Raja Nasir Abbas, as directed by the PTI chief, before deciding the next course of action.

The chief minister, along with other prominent party leaders, addressed a large public gathering of PTI workers at the Railway Station Ground, demanding the immediate release of Mr Khan and Bushra Bibi.

He said that the federal government has failed to bring the PTI founder to submission despite lodging what he termed baseless and fabricated cases against him and his wife.

Mr Afridi said the present rulers had set records of “cruelty and injustice” against the former prime minister , his wife, and even his sisters.

“More than 90 per cent of the youth have attended this public gathering, which is a clear message to those in power that Mr Khan rules the hearts of the younger generation,” he added.

On the occasion, the chief minister announced a package of Rs50 billion for various development projects to be undertaken in different parts of Mardan district.

He alleged that the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had deteriorated again due to the failed policies of the incumbent government in the centre. He added that during his more than three years in power, Mr Khan had restored and maintained peace in the province through effective policies.

He said he would continue to follow Mr Khan’s policies in the future as he did in the past.

Mr Afridi lamented that inflation had risen sharply after the PTI government was removed from power. He claimed that skyrocketing prices had eroded people’s purchasing power, pushing many towards extreme poverty.

He said the GDP growth rate, which was around 6pc during Mr Khan’s tenure, declined to as low as 2pc. According to him, the national debt increased from Rs51,000 billion during PTI’s government to Rs81,000bn under the current administration.

He added that the price of petroleum products was around Rs150 per litre during Mr Khan’s tenure but it rose to Rs368 per litre.

He also alleged that the federal government was denying Mr Khan and his wife the right to medical treatment of their choice, calling it unjust and unconstitutional.

Mr Afridi said he belonged to a middle-class family and credited PTI for elevating him to the position of chief minister, adding that other political parties promote ‘dynastic politics’.

Regarding Islamabad hosting the US-Iran talks, he said Pakistan deserved credit for facilitating dialogue aimed at restoring peace in the region.

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2026