LAHORE: On his arrival in the provincial capital on Friday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said that the grand reception he received in Punjab is a proof that PTI founder Imran Khan is not a security threat but a symbol of national unity. The KP CM is on a three-day visit to Lahore to hold several meetings with candidates and ticket-holders from Lahore. During his visit, he is expected to hold several meetings with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) parliamentarians, party ticket-holder and workers. Sources revealed that he may also visit Kot Lakhpat Jail to meet the incarcerated party leaders. In addition, he is expected to attend a ceremony at the Lahore High Court. While addressing the media after crossing Ravi Toll Plaza, Afridi dismissed allegations that the PTI founder poses a national security threat. “On the contrary, he is a symbol of national solidarity; he has unified the nation with his ideology. Political parties rooted in dynastic politics pose a real security threat to the country. These dynastic parties are plundering national resources and have stolen Rs 5,300 billion from the national treasury. The people are aware of how sincere the rulers are,” he added. Talking about the Punjab government’s hostile behaviour, the KP CM stated that party workers were harassed by law enforcement agencies while the Chakri Interchange on the motorway was blocked to prevent them from travelling to Lahore; a similar situation occurred at the Behra Interchange. He also claimed that workers from Mandi Bahauddin were stopped from joining their convoy on the motorway. Upon entering Lahore, he reported that, aside from his squad’s vehicles, the rest of the convoy was barred from entering the city at the Ravi Toll Plaza. “No democratic government behaves this way; this is outright martial law,” he asserted. He added that the Punjab government’s hostile actions will create division between the two provinces, and that the behaviour of the Punjab Chief Minister is fostering animosity between them. Later, Afridi visited Latif Khosa’s residence where a large number of party workers were present and held meetings with candidates and ticket-holders associated with Lahore. On this occasion, he said, “Since yesterday, the worst oppression, barbarism, and fascism have been evident throughout Lahore. However, I feel immense pride in the large number of workers and leaders who have come forward during this time. Since the regime change operation on April 9, the fascism that the people of Punjab and all of Pakistan have been enduring is clear to everyone. The entire country knows that the group imposed on Pakistan has turned into something destructive.” “Imran Khan, the leader of revolution, has issued the order to complete preparations for the street movement. The oppression that has occurred in Punjab over the past three years has no parallel.” Meanwhile, the Punjab authorities maintained a high security alert across the city, deploying police and paramilitary personnel at key entry points and sensitive locations. Traffic disruptions were reported on several roads, though no major clashes or incidents of violence were confirmed by late evening. Moreover, in anticipation of the KP CM’s visit to Liberty Chowk to address the party workers, the markets around the area were closed. The PTI had announced to hold a reception-cum-gathering at the Liberty Chowk, and thus the party urged its workers to be present at the spot. The local administration tightened the security around Liberty Chowk by stationing water cannons and a prison, and a heavy police presence was deployed in the vicinity. The U-turn from Liberty Chowk to Auriga Centre was blocked with barriers, effectively closing Liberty Chowk to the public, and the electric lights in the area were turned off. It was also reported that the KP CM’s convoy, comprising party leaders, lawmakers and supporters, entered Punjab via major interchanges, including Chakri and Sial Mor, where police had placed containers and barriers to restrict movement. Meanwhile, Opposition Leader of the Punjab Assembly Moin Qureshi, on social media, claimed that over 1000 PTI workers, including the party ticket holders, were arrested by the Punjab Police; however, we will show patience, and they will not react to unjust arrests. “The KP CM and his cabinet members are coming to the Punjab Assembly to meet the provincial legislators. We have sent a summary to the Punjab Assembly Secretary regarding the arrival of Chief Minister Suhail Afridi and other Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet members, and have requested that proper security be provided to us. If any of our guests are stopped or mistreated, we will head towards Mall Road.” PTI Central Punjab Deputy Secretary Information Mazahar Hafeez Butt on social media claimed that late at night in Lahore, police conducted a crackdown that resulted in the arrest of dozens of PTI workers. “The police carried out raids on the homes of party workers and officials,” he added. According to him, among those arrested are Usman Aslam Manawan, Syed Jibran Haider, Muhammad Qasim, and Khursheed Abbasi. During the raids, three employees of Waseem Akhtar Ramey were taken into custody, as well as his cousin from Dr Irfan Arif’s residence. Additional arrests were made at Usman Hamza’s house and included members of the Punjab Provincial Assembly, such as Sheikh Imtiaz Mahmood. Moreover, the home and office of ticket-holder Rashid Karamat Butt were also raided, leading to the arrest of three of his employees. While ticket-holder Hafiz Zeeshan Rashid’s residence was targeted, he was not present at the time. Senior leader Malik Karamat Khokhar was arrested during the operations. “Yasir Gilani’s house was also raided, resulting in the arrest of Mian Aslam Iqbal’s brother. Furthermore, both the brother and nephew of Naveed Khan were apprehended, along with the two sons of Siddique Khan. Other arrested individuals include Mazhar Hafeez Butt, Hafiz Abrar, Muhammad Azeem Akhtar, and Talha Butt. Police also raided the houses of Asif Ali and Abdul Ghafoor Pappu, a senior leader in Data Ganj Bakhsh Town,” he added. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025