PESHAWAR: The special assistant to the chief minister on information and public relations, Shafi Jan, on Friday said Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi will lead a public rally in Hazara Division on Saturday.

In a statement issued from his office, Mr Jan said the rally would commence from Hattar Interchange and proceed via GT Road to Mansehra, adding that party workers would receive the chief minister at Kangra, Sarai Saleh, Shah Maqsood, Lora Chowk, Mandian and Qalandarabad, while public gatherings would be addressed at Pinyan Chowk, Havelian Morr, Fawara Chowk and Mansehra Bazaar.

He said the former chairman Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, ruled hearts of the people from Khyber to Karachi, reflecting the party’s popular support despite adverse circumstances, adding that since the general elections, unannounced restrictions had been imposed on party’s political activities across the country.

He stated that Mr Khan, along with party leadership and workers, was facing what he termed as unjust imprisonment, while meetings with Mr Khan remained suspended for months, adding that the party was also being denied adequate political space for democratic and constitutional activities.

PTI to continue movement for public rights: Shafi

Referring to the street movement, the chief minister’s aide said that in these conditions the movement launched under the leadership of Mr Afridi had emerged as a significant step towards breaking political stagnation and termed the Hazara rally a continuation of the struggle for public awareness and the protection of democratic rights.

The special assistant reiterated that PTI would continue its struggle for public rights under the leadership of Mr Khan while remaining within the ambit of the Constitution and law and would not bow before any form of political coercion.

CNG STATIONS: Meanwhile, Shafi Jan on Friday expressed serious concern over the suspension of gas supply to CNG stations in the province and called for uninterrupted provision of gas in accordance with the province’s quota and constitutional rights.

He made these remarks during a meeting with a representative delegation of the All Pakistan CNG Association, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chapter, at his office; read an official statement issued from his office.

The delegation briefed the special assistant in detail about the gas shutdown to CNG stations and highlighted the problems and financial losses being faced by the sector due to the suspension.

Mr Jan said that KP was a resource-rich province that produced natural gas far in excess of its own requirements.

He stated that the province’s total gas production exceeded 480 MMCFD, while the total consumption of the CNG sector across the country was around 190 MMCFD, adding that CNG stations in KP consumed only about 48 MMCFD.

The shutdown, he added, was also having a negative impact on business activities in the province.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2026