Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi arrived in Karachi on Friday for a three-day visit to Sindh, during which he announced plans to hold a public rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah on Sunday evening.
After departing the airport, he travelled to Jinnah Ground via Shahrah-e-Faisal under tight security, receiving a rousing welcome at various points along the route.
Due to the rally, one track of Shahrah-e-Faisal was completely blocked, resulting in severe traffic congestion that left commuters stranded for hours.
مزار قائد باغ جناح سے کراچی کے عوام کیلئے جلسہ کے حوالے سے @SohailAfridiISF کا خصوصی پیغام ! #سندھ_عمران_خان_کا
pic.twitter.com/644KBXKqT6
— PTI (@PTIofficial) January 9, 2026
Upon reaching Jinnah Ground, Afridi, in a video message, invited Karachi residents to attend a public gathering scheduled for Sunday at 4:30pm.
He said the meeting would demonstrate that Karachi had belonged to Imran Khan in the past, belonged to him now and would continue to do so.
During the visit, Afridi will meet party leadership, as well as lawyers, business organisations, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, and media representatives in Karachi. At Islamabad Airport, members of the public took selfies with the chief minister, who was accompanied by provincial cabinet members and K-P’s members of the National and Provincial Assemblies.
Meanwhile, fees for holding the public meeting at Bagh-e-Jinnah have been deposited, though permission remains subject to security clearance. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) submitted pay orders amounting to Rs2.5 million, including Rs2 million as the event fee and Rs500,000 as a security deposit.
PTI Karachi General Secretary Arslan Khalid deposited the fees. While the pay orders have been received, the Mazar-i-Quaid administration said formal permission from the district administration is required before approval can be granted.
The administration said that following clearance from the district administration, the matter would be forwarded to the federal government for final approval, adding that a written permission letter has yet to be issued.
Saeed Ghani welcomes CM Afridi at airport
Earlier, a large number of party workers gathered at the domestic arrivals area of Jinnah International Airport ahead of the chief minister’s arrival to welcome him.
Sindh Minister for Labour, Human Resources and Social Protection Saeed Ghani received the K-P chief minister at the airport and presented him and accompanying members of his cabinet with traditional Sindhi caps and ajrak.
Afridi thanked Ghani and the Sindh government for the warm reception accorded to him on arrival.
Separately, a scuffle broke out among party workers who had gathered to welcome the chief minister. Witnesses said punches and kicks were exchanged inside the airport premises before members of the public intervened to separate the groups.
Security personnel detained two individuals in connection with the altercation.
Earlier in the day, Afridi left Peshawar earlier in the day, but his flight, PK-201, was diverted from Karachi to Islamabad due to adverse weather conditions. The flight later departed for Karachi at around 12.30pm, according to airport sources.
Speaking to reporters at the airport, Afridi said Sindh party leadership had shared the visit schedule and called for participation in planned activities, including a rally at Mazar-e-Quaid on Sunday.
Read: Afridi set for Karachi leg of street drive
Dozens of supporters had arrived at Karachi Airport awaiting the Chief Minister’s arrival, where additional security had been deployed.
Earlier in Peshawar, Afridi said he was conveying a message from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s founding chairman, Imran Khan, and urged supporters to participate in the street movement. He described the rally planned for January 11 at Mazar-e-Quaid as a major public gathering.
Planned itinerary in Sindh
Special Assistant to the Chief Minister for Information Shafi Jan said the visit, undertaken on the party’s direction, was aimed at strengthening the street movement in Sindh.
According to the schedule, Afridi will meet party leaders at Justice House, visit the press club, and hold a meeting with the Sindh chief minister. He is also scheduled to attend a rally at Mazar-e-Quaid and take part in political activities in the South, Malir, and Korangi districts.
Sohail Afridi was expected to visit the Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry during his visit to Karachi; however, the federation has addressed a letter to the K-P CM stating that the meeting “has been postponed due to unavoidable/unforeseen circumstances.”
On Saturday, Afridi is scheduled to travel to Hyderabad, where he will address the bar and press club, attend a party convention, and meet local leaders, while also taking part in political activities in Hyderabad and Kotri.
On Sunday, Afridi is expected to meet senior lawyers and traders and take part in political activities in Kemari and the West District, before concluding his visit with the rally at Mazar-e-Quaid and returning to Peshawar on Monday.
Turbulent Lahore visit
Afridi’s Sindh visit follows a visit to Lahore during which he was prevented from addressing supporters at Liberty Chowk after police blocked access routes. He later addressed PTI lawmakers at the Punjab Assembly, where confrontations between members of his entourage and security officials were reported.
Read: Afridi slams Punjab government for blocking PTI activities in Lahore
He was also barred from entering the cantonment area to meet party leaders and from visiting the city’s food street, which had been closed ahead of his arrival. Afridi later went to Zaman Park amid heavy police deployment, while reports emerged of PTI supporters being detained.
On Monday, Afridi lodged a formal complaint with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz over the treatment he said he received in Lahore. In the letter, he described the Punjab government’s security measures as “extraordinary and excessive” and said they amounted to intimidation rather than cooperation.Latest News, Breaking News & Top News Stories | The Express TribuneSaleh MughalRead More
