Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Friday said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) would hold a “historic” public rally in Karachi on Sunday as part of preparations for a nationwide street movement assigned to him by the party’s founding chairman.

Speaking at a “Meet the Press” event at the Karachi Press Club, CM Afridi said he had been tasked with mobilising workers across provinces and rejected objections to his political activity outside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Show me the clause in the Constitution that bars a provincial chief executive from doing politics in another province, and I will leave,” he said.

He said preparations for the Karachi rally were complete, though formal permission was still awaited at the time of his address.

He apologised to journalists for the delay in reaching the press club, saying heavy crowds and traffic meant the journey from the airport took nearly six hours.

CM Afridi said political parties and journalists were interlinked and could jointly work for what he described as “real democracy.”

He criticised the treatment of PTI leadership and media, referring to the killing of journalist Arshad Sharif and alleging restrictions on press freedom.

He also claimed that only the KP government had come to power with a genuine public mandate, while governments in other provinces were formed through what he termed a “fake mandate.”

Saeed Ghani receives KP CM

Earlier, upon his arrival at the Karachi Airport, CM Afridi was received by Sindh Provincial Minister Saeed Ghani amid a visible show of support by Pakistan PTI workers.

A large number of PTI supporters gathered to welcome the chief minister, chanting slogans and escorting him as he departed in a rally towards the city.

Saeed Ghani welcomed CM Afridi and presented him with a traditional ajrak and Sindhi cap, a gesture reciprocated with words of appreciation by the KP chief minister, who thanked party workers for their enthusiasm.

The rally from the airport caused severe traffic congestion on Shahrah-e-Faisal, according to sources, disrupting the flow of vehicles in surrounding areas.

Separately, the Sindh government has decided to allow PTI to hold a public meeting at Jinnah Ground, Karachi.

Sindh Local Government Minister Nasir Hussain Shah confirmed that PTI had sought permission for a rally at Bagh-e-Jinnah, which has been granted.

Shah said the Sindh government would extend a full welcome to the KP chief minister and stressed that peaceful political activities would not be obstructed.

“No political party, including PTI, can be stopped from peaceful struggle. Issues arise only in case of violations of the law,” he said.

Earlier, in a video message before departing for Karachi, CM Afridi said he was embarking on a three-day visit to Sindh and would convey the message of PTI’s founding chairman to every corner of the province. He urged the people of Sindh to prepare and actively participate in the party’s street movement.

Sources said CM Afridi travelled to Karachi on a Pakistan International Airlines flight after switching from a private airline due to a delay. Members of the KP provincial cabinet accompanied him during the visit.

PTI faces setbacks

However, the visit also faced setbacks. The Hyderabad High Court Bar Association refused to allow the chief minister to address the bar.

Bar President Advocate Ishrat Lohar said 11 executive members opposed the request, while only one supported it, adding that an earlier permission letter had been issued by the general secretary without executive approval.

Earlier on Thursday, trader groups also declined to meet the chief minister. Sources said the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) had initially extended an invitation but later withdrew it, and the decision was conveyed in writing to PTI leader Haleem Adil Sheikh.

Party sources said Afridi is on a three-day visit to Sindh to convey the PTI leadership’s message and mobilise supporters for the party’s street movement.