LAHORE/HAFIZABAD: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Sohail Afridi arrived in Lahore on Friday for a three-day visit, during which he is scheduled to hold a series of political, parliamentary and public engagements across the provincial capital.
Accompanied by a delegation of provincial ministers, cabinet members and parliamentarians, he entered Lahore after crossing the Ravi Toll Plaza. During his stay, he is scheduled to visit the Punjab Assembly, where he will meet the party’s parliamentary members in the province.
Sources said the Punjab Assembly secretariat approved the entry of CM Afridi and his delegation into the provincial legislature, with the complete list of delegates shared with assembly security officials. According to the sources, Afridi is also expected to meet opposition members inside the Punjab Assembly and address them during his visit.
The KP chief minister is further scheduled to address lawyers at the Lahore High Court Bar on Saturday and visit various locations in the city, including Liberty Chowk. PTI sources said he may also call on senior party leaders, including Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, Mian Mahmoodur Rashid, Hammad Azhar and Ejaz Chaudhry, besides holding meetings with senior journalists and anchorpersons. He is also expected to visit incarcerated PTI leaders at Kot Lakhpat Jail.
In a statement, Punjab Assembly Deputy Speaker Zaheer Iqbal Channer said that the KP chief minister would be welcomed at the Punjab Assembly should he decide to visit the house.
Meanwhile, CM Sohail Afridi was accorded a warm welcome by local PTI workers at the Sukheki Rest Area on the motorway. The reception was led by PTI District President Imran Haider Bhatti and Central Punjab Vice President Rai Javed, as a large number of workers stopped the chief minister’s vehicle, showered flower petals and raised slogans in favour of PTI founder Imran Khan. PTI Parliamentary Leader in the National Assembly Shahid Khattak was also present in the vehicle along with the chief minister.
Addressing the gathering, Shahid Khattak said workers had gathered at Liberty Chowk Lahore, where the chief minister would join them for tea. CM Afridi expressed gratitude to PTI workers from Hafizabad for the grand welcome at the Sukheki Rest Area. A heavy contingent of police and security agencies remained deployed on the motorway and in surrounding areas.
Separately, the Punjab Home Department has issued directives for foolproof security arrangements during the visit of the KP chief minister to Punjab from December 26 to December 28. According to the instructions, special security measures have been ordered for all official and non-official engagements, including his visit to the Punjab Assembly, meetings with journalists and students, and the scheduled visit to Kot Lakhpat Jail. Relevant departments have been directed to ensure comprehensive security throughout the visit.
