HYDERABAD (MNN); Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi reached Hyderabad on Saturday evening for a day-long visit aimed at mobilising public support for a nationwide street movement.
After arriving in the city, the chief minister addressed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters and workers at Khurshid Chowk, urging them to prepare for the upcoming protest campaign.
Afridi had arrived in Karachi a day earlier on a four-day tour to build momentum ahead of the February 8 protests, which will mark two years since the general elections that the opposition alleges were rigged.
Earlier in the day, Sindh United Party (SUP) President Syed Zain Shah welcomed the KP chief minister at the G.M. Syed Edifice. Speaking at the welcome event, Afridi said the politics of President Asif Ali Zardari had eclipsed the legacy of Pakistan Peoples Party founders Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto.
He claimed that Sindh was now under Zardari’s political control and clarified remarks he had made a day earlier praising the PPP for preserving democratic traditions. Afridi said his comments were misconstrued and did not amount to endorsement of the party’s governance in Sindh.
The chief minister also alleged that Bagh-i-Jinnah, the designated venue for PTI’s Karachi rally, had been locked despite assurances from the Sindh government. Nevertheless, he urged party supporters to gather at the site as planned.
Criticising the PPP, Afridi said the party, once regarded as a defender of the Constitution, had altered its core structure through the 26th and 27th constitutional amendments.
Calling for public backing of Imran Khan’s call for a street movement, Afridi said the former prime minister’s struggle was for constitutional supremacy, rule of law, genuine democracy, free media and an independent judiciary. He vowed that the movement would continue until these objectives were achieved.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said Sindh had been deprived of its rightful resources, alleging that powerful quarters had seized control of provincial assets. He said Sindh had the primary right over its gas and water resources and reiterated PTI’s support for the province’s position on the six canals issue.
Raja added that PTI did not believe in power politics and would not strike deals at the cost of principles.
Addressing the gathering, SUP President Syed Zain Shah strongly criticised the PPP, accusing it of trading Sindh’s resources in exchange for political power. He said the country had largely been ruled by military regimes or civilian proxies over the past 79 years.
Shah alleged that illegitimate governments were installed not only after the 2024 elections but also in 2022, when Imran Khan was removed from office. He demanded fresh, transparent elections and the release of all political prisoners, including Imran Khan and Yasmin Rashid.
In a separate Facebook post, the SUP also called for the release of all political detainees, naming Imran Khan, Ali Wazir, Mahrang Baloch and prisoners linked to the Moro incident.
Earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi arrived in Jamshoro district on Saturday as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s caravan moved toward Hyderabad as part of a day-long campaign to mobilise public support for a nationwide street movement.
Afridi had reached Karachi a day earlier on a four-day visit aimed at building momentum ahead of the planned February 8 protests, marking two years since the general elections that the opposition alleges were rigged.
Sindh United Party President Syed Zain Shah received the KP chief minister at the G.M. Syed Edifice, where a welcome event was held in his honour. Addressing the gathering, CM Afridi said the politics of President Asif Ali Zardari had brought an end to the political legacy of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto, claiming that Sindh was now under Zardari’s control.
He clarified remarks made a day earlier in which he had praised the PPP for upholding democratic traditions, saying his comments were misconstrued and did not reflect approval of the party’s governance in Sindh.
Afridi also alleged that Bagh-i-Jinnah, the proposed venue for PTI’s Karachi rally, had been locked, but urged supporters to gather there regardless. He criticised the PPP for altering the Constitution through the 26th and 27th amendments, despite once being a defender of constitutional supremacy.
Calling on supporters to back Imran Khan’s call for a street movement, Afridi said the former prime minister’s struggle was for constitutional supremacy, rule of law, genuine democracy, free media and an independent judiciary. He vowed that the movement would continue until these objectives were achieved.
PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja said Sindh had been deprived of its resources, alleging that powerful quarters had usurped provincial rights. He maintained that Sindh had the first right over its gas and water resources and reiterated PTI’s support for Sindh’s stance on the six canals issue, adding that the party would not engage in politics of compromise.
Addressing the gathering, SUP President Syed Zain Shah accused the PPP of trading Sindh’s resources for political power. He said the country had largely been ruled by military regimes or puppet civilian governments over the past 79 years and demanded fresh, transparent elections and the release of all political prisoners, including Imran Khan and Yasmin Rashid.
The SUP later demanded the release of all political detainees, naming Imran Khan, Ali Wazir, Mahrang Baloch and prisoners linked to the Moro incident.
PTI shared videos showing CM Afridi’s convoy reaching Jamshoro and raising slogans in support of Imran Khan. The party said stops on the caravan included Kotri, while PTI Hyderabad Youth Wing members gathered to welcome the chief minister at the Hyderabad Insaf House.
According to PTI, Afridi is scheduled to address the Hyderabad Press Club, attend an Insaf Students Federation convention and take part in street movement activities. The itinerary also mentioned an address to the Hyderabad High Court Bar Association, though the bar later clarified that no formal permission had been granted.
Speaking before departing Karachi, CM Afridi thanked residents for their reception and urged them to ensure the success of the planned gathering at Mazar-i-Quaid, saying Karachi belonged to Imran Khan and would continue to do so.
