PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Thursday said PTI founder Imran Khan’s release from the jail had become “indispensable in the broader interest of the country”, so all possible constitutional and democratic efforts would be made for it.
During a meeting here with PTI parliamentarians from Peshawar, Malakand, Kohat regions, northern Punjab as well as delegations from Khyber tribal district, the chief minister said that Mr Imran’s bad health was not a political matter but an issue concerning his life and wellbeing, so it couldn’t be disregarded under any circumstances.
He resented the family members and personal physicians’ continued denial of access to Imran, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office here.
The meeting held detailed consultations on the health of Imran Khan, the ongoing Imran Release Campaign, the upcoming public gathering in Mardan, overall political situation in the country, governance issues, the party’s organisational affairs and the future course of action.
Complains family, personal doctors denied meeting with PTI leader in jail
Afridi said that following the announcement of the April 19 public gathering, “certain quarters, including touts from digital platforms”, had initiated negative propaganda in an attempt to undermine the event.
He, however, said that the people would reject such tactics outright, adding that some elements were attempting to sabotage the gathering and create political instability, but both the government and the party remained steadfast in their policy direction.
The chief minister asserted that the opposition’s propaganda would be decisively rejected by the people on Sunday, adding that a jirga of lawyers was being convened on Friday.
Similar consultative jirgas involving other segments of society will be organised in order to formulate a unified strategy through broader consultation and stakeholder engagement.
The chief minister stated that Imran’s directions remained paramount at every level of the party structure and reiterated that comprehensive efforts would continue for the protection of people’s rights and for securing Imran’s release from jail.
He said that work was under way to formulate the forthcoming Annual Development Programme, and that region wise consultative meetings would be held to incorporate people’s input into the planning process.
Stressing the government’s development priorities, the chief minister said that the upcoming budget would be structured with particular focus on youth welfare and public interest to ensure the province’s sustainable development.
Meanwhile, Afridi, in another statement from his office, ordered authorities to allocate enhanced financial resources in the forthcoming provincial budget for the Highways Authority.
Chairing a meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Highways Council in Peshawar, he emphasised the inclusion of major development schemes aimed at improving the province’s road connectivity network.
The meeting discussed matters relating to the budget of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Highways Authority (KPHA), its annual maintenance plan, and other strategic institutional affairs were deliberated upon and approved, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.
It approved an increase in the authority’s annual administrative and operational grant from Rs30 million to Rs40 million to further enhance institutional efficiency and align the road maintenance system with modern operational requirements and service delivery standards.
The chief minister said that the authority’s upcoming development programme would incorporate several high impact strategic projects, for which timely and adequate financial allocations would be ensured to facilitate expeditious completion.
The meeting approved an internship plan proposed by the authority under the KP Internship Policy.
Afridi sanctioned a 20 per cent increase in internship seats under the province-wide internship programme, raising the total number of positions from 5,000 to 6,000.
He said that the initiative was meant to equip youth with practical professional experience and enhance their employability prospects in the job market.
The chief minister said that right of way charges should not be levied by the Highways Authority, in order to promote ease of doing business in the province and foster a more investment friendly environment.
The meeting approved proposed amendments to the Authority’s Service Regulations, 2019, and decided to strengthen the framework governing retirement benefits and death compensation for employees to ensure improved institutional welfare and social protection mechanisms for the workforce.
Regarding social welfare measures, the meeting reached a principled decision to further refine and operationalise the previously proposed financial assistance package for the legal heirs of families whose head passed away while undergoing treatment under the Sehat Insaf Card programme.
Afridi said that the primary objective of the initiative was to provide financial support to bereaved families and mitigate the hardships faced by dependents following the loss of their principal breadwinner.
He also said that a formal feasibility study should be undertaken for the provincialisation of the Gul Abad to Sar Bala Road in the Lower Dir district.
“Infrastructure development in remote and underserved areas remains among the government’s foremost priorities,” he said.
Published in Dawn, April 17th, 2026