Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM condemns alleged mistreatment of PTI founder, police violence against leaders

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Chief Minister Sohail Afridi expressed strong condemnation of recent allegations involving former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan during a provincial cabinet meeting on Wednesday. He emphasized that the need for an eye operation revealed inhumane treatment within prison walls, with Mr. Afridi accusing police of using excessive force against PTI leaders in Karachi and Peshawar.

Addressing the 47th cabinet session, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi asserted that his government was established on Imran Khan’s mandate and would continue to advocate for justice against what he decried as injustice. He denounced any attempt to conceal facts about Imran Khan’s health as a serious violation of human rights.

CM Afridi also addressed recent incidents involving police violence, specifically mentioning the alleged torture of former PTI members in Karachi. He highlighted these events as deeply troubling and said that individuals involved in such actions must be held accountable. The Chief Minister vowed to ensure those responsible were brought to justice.

Separately, Mr. Afridi announced a new online open court system for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. While only one session had been completed, he instructed all cabinet secretaries, ministers, director generals, and district administrations to conduct weekly public hearings. He emphasized that at least one such virtual court per week was mandatory at the provincial level. Mr. Afridi described this initiative as a means to bridge the gap between citizens and their government.

In terms of development matters, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi outlined plans for completing the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for 2026-27 by February 15th. He expressed optimism that progress on ADP 2026-27 had been finalized, and he directed all relevant departments to expedite their projects within a month. According to Mr. Afridi, procedural requirements should be swiftly addressed so relief could begin reaching the public starting next month.

He emphasized the importance of visible development benefits for citizens, stating that they would now be able to raise concerns from home due to his government’s online open court system. Overall, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi continued his commitment to justice and transparency by addressing multiple fronts: human rights violations, police brutality, and ongoing development efforts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.