Web Desk (MNN); Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Friday accused Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of engaging in “illegal activity and travel” by attempting to mobilise political support for Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s planned nationwide street movement.
CM Afridi is currently in Karachi as part of PTI’s preparations to launch a street agitation on the directives of party founder Imran Khan.
Speaking on Geo News programme ‘Aaj Shahzeb Khanzada ke Saath’, Sanaullah said the PTI was in no position to initiate a street movement and termed the proposed nationwide wheel-jam strike on February 8 as an act of “violence”.
“They cannot mobilise people because their actions are not in accordance with the law. The KP chief minister is involved in illegal activity and even his travel is illegal,” Sanaullah claimed.
When asked to clarify what aspect of Afridi’s visit was unlawful, Sanaullah said that a wheel-jam strike could not be considered a lawful political activity under the Constitution. “Calling and holding a wheel-jam strike is illegal in itself,” he added.
He further said the Sindh government would not allow any wheel-jam strike and claimed that the PTI was “not even capable of blocking a single road”.
Responding to these remarks, Adviser to the KP chief minister on information Shafiullah Jan, who was also participating in the programme, said the February 8 wheel-jam strike had been called by Mahmood Khan Achakzai, chairman of the Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan opposition alliance.
“Rana Sanaullah appears confused,” Jan said, adding that Sanaullah had earlier warned that May 9 cases would be reopened if the strike call was not withdrawn. “This itself proves that May 9 was a false flag operation against the PTI,” he claimed, referring to cases against PTI workers over the May 9, 2023 riots.
Jan said the PTI would support and endorse Achakzai’s call for the February 8 wheel-jam strike.
Sanaullah, however, maintained that PTI’s street movement would fail, claiming that only a small number of people from KP would participate. He alleged that once legal action was taken against participants, the party would again raise allegations of false cases and conspiracies.
“These people still insist that May 9 was a false flag operation and deny their involvement. They are spreading misinformation. Can their statements be trusted?” he asked.
Questioning PTI’s mobilisation claims, Sanaullah said the party was talking about KP leading the wheel-jam strike despite drawing a limited crowd at its recent Peshawar rally. “Only around 4,500 people attended, even after a month of preparations,” he said.
He added that while the PTI might attempt mobilisation in KP, it would ultimately fail, and those involved would later complain of fake cases once prosecuted.
During his three-day visit to Karachi, CM Afridi is scheduled to meet PTI leaders, lawyers and business figures, and also hold talks with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. The visit is aimed at reviving PTI’s street movement in Karachi and other cities while demanding the release of the jailed former prime minister.
