CM Afridi accuses Punjab govt of political victimisation and manhandling at worker's residence in Lahore

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Monday accused the Punjab government and police of political victimisation, brutality and manhandling during his visit to Lahore to offer condolences to the family of a slain Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist, Ishtiaq Ahmad. Tensions rose outside the deceased activist’s residence as Afridi, accompanied by PTI Secretary General Barrister Salman Akram Raja and Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Malik Ahmad Khan Bhachar, reached the workers' home. They also encountered barricades and a heavy police presence. Afridi alleged that the Punjab govt attempted to "abduct" him and later "dumped" him on the street, saying such an attempt against a provincial chief minister was no small matter. He urged workers to remain peaceful, alleging that the situation was orchestrated by Punjab’s government to create chaos. “We have not come here to hold any political gathering or procession,” Afridi told police personnel. PTI strongly condemned the incident, calling it "the shameful and reprehensible conduct of the Punjab Police" towards Afridi. "انہوں نے اغواء کرنے کی کوشش کی پھر یہاں سڑک پر پھینک گئے، ایک صوبے کے وزیراعلی کو اغواء کرنے کی کوشش کی یہ چھوٹی بات نہیں ان پر اب پریشر آئے گا" وزیراعلی سہیل آفریدی@SohailAfridiISF pic.twitter.com/RSrVeGYKkL — PTI (@PTIofficial) September 14, 2026 The statement said that the political differences were one thing, but "harassing or attempting to abduct" an elected public representative was absolutely unacceptable under any circumstances. "Maryam Nawaz and her thuggish elements should feel ashamed of this disgraceful behaviour," it added. PTI said that the "power is temporary, but the violation of the people's mandate and the humiliation of democratic representatives" are always remembered in history. پریس ریلیز: پاکستان تحریکِ انصاف وزیر اعلیٰ سہیل آفریدی کے ساتھ روا رکھے جانے والے پنجاب پولیس کے شرمناک اور قابلِ مذمت رویے کی شدید الفاظ میں مذمت کرتی ہے۔ سیاسی اختلاف اپنی جگہ، مگر ایک منتخب عوامی نمائندے کو ہراساں کرنا یا اغوا کرنے کی کوشش کرنا کسی صورت قابلِ قبول نہیں۔… — PTI (@PTIofficial) September 14, 2026 K-P Information Minister Shafi Ullah Jan also strongly condemned it and said that said forcing an elected chief minister into a vehicle, withdrawing his security and leaving him without assistance was a serious matter for which the Punjab government should be held responsible. Jan said the incident in Lahore amounted to an affront to the democratic mandate and constitutional rights of the K-P chief minister. Punjab Assembly Opposition Leader Moeen-ud-Din Riaz Qureshi also condemned what he described as the alleged misconduct and attempted abduction of Afridi by Punjab police. He said such treatment of an elected chief minister was unacceptable and stressed that the public mandate, Constitution and democratic values must be protected. Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayin-e-Pakistan (TTAP) Punjab Chief Organiser Ammar Ali Jan and Information Secretary Shayan Bashir also condemned the alleged detention of Afridi, holding the Punjab government responsible for the incident. In a joint statement, they said a sitting chief minister had visited the family of a deceased political worker to offer condolences and should not have been detained by police of another province. They alleged that Punjab police had held the elected K-P chief minister against his will and described the incident as unprecedented in relations between the provinces. وزیراعلیٰ خیبرپختونخوا @SohailAfridiISF کو پنجاب پولیس کی جانب سے اغوا کرنے کی کوشش کی گئی۔ مریم نواز کے گلو بٹوں نے وزیراعلیٰ آفریدی کو ڈالے میں ڈال کر اغوا کیا اور دور ویرانے میں چھوڑ دیا، پنجاب پولیس نے وزیراعلیٰ آفریدی کو ان کی سکیورٹی سے الگ کرکے زبردستی دوسری گاڑی میں… — Shafi Jan (@ShafiJanPTI) September 14, 2026   Responding to Afridi’s allegations, Punjab Information and Culture Minister Azma Zahid Bokhari called it a “drama”, saying that they themselves went and sat in the police van while police officials were asking them to get off. “They scolded and pushed aside their own guard for obstructing what she described as a scripted drama and lazy acting," she said in a post on X. ایک اور ڈرامہ بازی ملاحظہ کریں،خود جا کر پولیس وین میں بیٹھ گئے،پولیس والے اترنے کو کہہ رہے ہیں،اپنے گارڈذ کو اپنا ڈرامہ بلاک کرنے پر جھاڑ کر پرے کردیا،فرمائشی اور سستی ایکٹینگ انکو عزت دے رہے ہیں لیکن یہ اسکے لائق ہی نہیں pic.twitter.com/CXVeRGAu0u — Azma Zahid Bokhari (@AzmaBokhariPMLN) September 14, 2026 Addressing media and PTI workers outside Ahmad’s home, Afridi accused the Punjab police and government of causing the death, saying the deceased was innocent. He also criticised Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, referring to her concerns over security threats. “The Punjab police and the illegitimate Punjab government burned Ishtiaq Ahmad in hot oil; he was innocent and had done no wrong, yet he was killed,” he said. Ahmad had died after suffering burn injuries during a police raid while preparations were under way for Eid Miladun Nabi (PBUH). The PTI alleged that the police were responsible for his death, claiming that he had suffered burns over 70 per cent of his body after falling into a vat of boiling oil amid chaos. He later died despite treatment. Afridi rejected security and protocol offered by the Punjab authorities and said he had come to Lahore as an ordinary citizen. “Punjab is mine, Pakistan is mine. I have come here as an ordinary citizen. I refuse to accept your security; I do not need your protection. The fake chief minister of Punjab claims she feels threatened by the three provinces of Pakistan but not by India, which is a shameful attitude. I am from Punjab, and Punjabis are mine. I have no threat from Punjab. The people of Punjab despise you. I am the people’s chief minister and I enjoy being among the people,” he added. Speaking about the PTI’s planned September 27 protest, he said the party’s struggle would remain within democratic and legal limits. He said the Constitution was the guarantor of national cohesion and equal rights and rejected violence and lawbreaking. “We do not support violence or lawbreaking; our only demand is that courts and relevant institutions make impartial and fair decisions in accordance with the Constitution and law,” he said. Afridi called upon citizens to participate in the September 27 protest, saying people would come out to demand the release of PTI founder Imran Khan and their rights. The Punjab Home Department had imposed a ban on large gatherings under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code until September 17. The order also prohibited rallies, demonstrations and the display of weapons, while exempting weddings, funerals and court proceedings. PTI leaders also alleged that authorities had obstructed their movement. Opposition Leader Moeen Qureshi claimed that the K-P chief minister’s convoy was repeatedly stopped and attempts were made to arrest members of the delegation. “An attempt was made to arrest me, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja and Senator Aoun Abbas. Moreover, the police prevented us from going to the deceased’s home to attend the funeral,” he said. PTI Punjab Information Secretary Shaukat Basra also accused the provincial authorities of carrying out late-night raids and detaining hundreds of party workers, including women. The leaders alleged that the police had maintained a heavy presence during the funeral and rushed the rites to prevent family members and party workers from gathering. After offering condolences to the family, Afridi and other leaders proceeded towards Data Darbar in a rally. A large number of PTI supporters joined the procession as it passed through Mochi Gate, Lohari Gate and Bhatti Gate amid heavy police presence. After offering prayers at the shrine, Afridi proceeded with supporters towards the Lahore High Court to attend a function hosted by lawyers. The movement of the convoy and rally disrupted traffic in several parts of central Lahore. Severe congestion was reported around the railway station, Mall Road, Lower Mall Road, Regal Chowk, GPO Chowk and Circular Road, while traffic diversions forced commuters to use adjoining neighbourhood streets. Traffic jams were also reported around Ek Moriya Pul, Akbari Market Road, Delhi Gate, Wansan Wala Bazaar and Shah Alam Market. Sources said police forced shopkeepers to close businesses along Hall Road, Mall Road, Anarkali and other markets during the time.