Police used force to disperse PTI sit-in, says Afridi

Listen to article

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Wednesday alleged that the Islamabad police “fired bullets” at the PTI participants, who staged a sit-in at Chungi No 26 after they were barred from entering the federal capital en route to Adiala jail.

CM Afridi, the sisters of PTI chief Imran Khan, and national and provincial lawmakers arrived for a meeting with Mr Khan on Tuesday, but they were not allowed to proceed towards the prison via Islamabad, prompting them to stage a sit-in. The sit-in ended after midnight. Due to the protest, roads had remained blocked for over six hours.

In a press conference at the KP House, the CM claimed the police fired “bullets” at the PTI protesters. He also showed a video of several PTI supporters showing their bullet wounds on camera. It was not immediately clear whether the injuries were caused by rubber bullets or live ammunition.

In the video, at least one person could be seen with a small wound and blood on their shoulder.

KP CM vows to return to Adiala next Tuesday ‘with more intensity’

CM Afridi reiterated that another protest would be held tomorrow (Friday), and if they were not allowed to meet Mr Khan, their next protest on Tuesday would be even more intense.

“We have only one demand that Imran Khan should be treated in the Shifa International Hospital,” he said, adding that they would “come [to Islamabad] again and again”.

“Imran Khan has never lodged a complaint regarding his health, but now he has lost 85pc of his vision in one eye. We will come here again and again, and no one can stop us,” he said.

The CM also alluded to the ‘cipher’ controversy, saying ex-PM Imran Khan was removed because he said ‘absolutely not’. The “regime change operation” yielded nothing but inflation. At the presser, Aleema Khan demanded that Article 6 proceedings be initiated against those involved in the cipher episode.

Earlier this week, the PTI called for an independent judicial inquiry into the leak after a US-based outlet released a purported copy of the cipher.

Ms Aleema added that meetings with Mr Khan had been banned 14 months ago and for the past seven months, he had been in solitary confinement.

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2026

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Newspaper

Ikram Junaidi is a staff correspondent for Dawn with over 25 years of experience. He covers national politics, particularly opposition parties, as well as public health issues.

Read more